four wheel drive CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1997 Owners Manual

About Driving Your Vehicle Safety Warnings and Symbols
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
vehicle correctly may result in loss
of control or an We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
accident. Be sure to read the “on-pavement” and about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
“off-road” driving guidelines in this manual. (See the warning.
“Driving Guidelines” and “Off-Road Driving with your
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle” in the Index.)
I
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index
in the back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of
what’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll
find it.
m ~
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
1
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do
to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.
.. -
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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2-3
2-6
2-8
2-11
2- 12
2- 12
2- 13
2- 15
2- 16
2-20
2-20
2-25
2-26
2-28 Keys
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
Your Doors and How They Work
Theft
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transmission Operation
Locking Rear Axle
Four-wheel Drive
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK
(P)
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2-29
2-30
2-3
1
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2-3 3
2-40
2-42
2-44
2-48
2-5 8
2-59
2-60
2-62
2-64 Parking Over
Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Multifunction Lever
Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Sun Visors
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Your vehicle now features an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is capable of
being moved out of PARK (P). This means that
if your
key is in
OFF, rather than LOCK, there will be a small
current drain on your battery which could discharge
your battery over
a period of time. If you have a need to
leave your key in the ignition in
OFF for an extended
period for any reason, it is recommended that you
disconnect the battery cable from the battery to prevent
discharging your battery.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t 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 won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
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 (N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two-wheel high
(2H) or four-wheel
high
(4H) or four-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL (N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
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Locking Rear Axle (If Equipped)
If you have this feature, your rear axle can give you
additional traction
on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It
works like a standard axle most of the time, but when
one of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does,
the locking feature will allow the wheel with traction to
move the vehicle.
Four-wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the
part that follows before using four-wheel drive. You
should use
2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) for most normal
driving conditions.
1 NOTICE: I
Driving in the 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
4-WHEEL LOW (4L) positions for a long time
on dry or wet pavement could shorten the life of
your vehicle’s drivetrain.
Front Axle Locking Feature
The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when
you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to
lock or unlock
is normal. If the outside temperature is
very hot, or the vehicle has been used under hard
driving conditions, there may be a slight delay for the
axle to unlock.
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Manual Transfer Case
The transfer case shift lever is on the floor to the right of
the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out
of
four-wheel drive.
. . . . . ... .. .. . .. ... ... . ..... .. ... .. . .... . .. ..... .... .. . . . .. .. ... ... . . .
f t I I
The front axle portion of the indicator diagram will light
up when you shift into four-wheel drive and the front
axle engages.
Some delay between shifting into four-wheel drive and
the indicator’s lighting is normal. If the front axle light
does not
go out immediately after you shift out of
four-wheel drive, have your dealer check your system.
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An indicator near the lever shows you the transfer
case settings:
2-Wheel High (2H): This setting is for driving in most
street and highway situations. Your front axle
is not
engaged in two-wheel drive.
4-Wheel High (4H): This setting engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle. Use 4H when you need
extra traction, such as
on wet or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
Neutral (N): Shift to this setting only when your vehicle
needs to be towed or when using a power take-off.
4-Wheel Low (4L): This setting also engages your front
axle to give you extra power and a higher driveline ratio.
This position should be used only for off-road driving.
You can shift from 2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to 4-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) or from 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) to
2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) while the vehicle is moving.
Your front axle may engage faster if you take your foot
off of the accelerator for
a few seconds after you shift.
In extremely cold weather, it may be necessary to stop
or slow the vehicle to shift into 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H). To
shift into or out of 4-WHEEL LOW (4L) or
N (NEUTRAL):
1. Slow the vehicle to a roll, about 1 to 3 mph
(2 to
5 km/h) and shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Shift the transfer case shift lever in one quick,
continuous motion.
Don’t pause in N
(NEUTRAL) as you shift the transfer
case into 4-WHEEL LOW (4L), or the gears could clash.
Remember that driving in 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
4-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel economy. Also,
driving in four-wheel drive on dry pavement could
cause your tires to wear faster and make your transfer
case harder to shift and run noisier.
When your headlamps or parking lamps are on, rotate
the thumb wheel next to the headlamp switch up
to
brighten, and down to dim your transfer case
indicator light.
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Electronic Transfer Case (If Equipped)
If your four-wheel-drive vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the transfer case switches are below and to
the left of the climate controls.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose among three driving settings:
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is
not engaged in
two-wheel drive.
4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help drive
your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra traction,
such as
on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
4LO: This setting also engages your front axle to give
you extra traction. You may never need
4LO. It sends
the maximum power to all
four wheels. You might
choose
4LO if you were driving off-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the switches show
you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly
when you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting
will stay on. If the lights do not come on,
you should
take your vehicle in for service. An indicator light will
flash while shifting. It will remain illuminated when the
shift is completed. If for some reason the transfer case
cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the last
chosen setting.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at any
speed, and the indicator light will flash while shifting. It
will remain illuminated when the
shft is completed.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
r
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If’ you have four-wheel drive and
your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), 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 (N). If you’re
pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the
parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
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Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is in
a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Move 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).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
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 firmly set. If you have
four-wheel drive with
a manual transfer case
shift lever and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), 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 (N). And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could overheat and even
catch fire. You or others could be injured. Don’t
leave your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to.
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Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if
ever have to, here are some things to
know.
Idling the engine with the air system control off
could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is
at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is
a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.) It
can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
,To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL
(N), 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 (N). Always
set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps to be
sure your vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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