steering CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2009 User Guide

Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send the
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. Read the following before using four-wheel
drive.
Notice:Driving on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive Low for
an extended period of time may cause premature
wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive on
clean, dry pavement in Four-Wheel-Drive High or
Four-Wheel-Drive Low for extended periods of time.
While driving on clean dry pavement and during tight
turns, you may experience a vibration in the steering
system.
The vehicle has StabiliTrak
®. Shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control
and StabiliTrak
®off. SeeStabiliTrak®System on
page 4-6.
Front Axle
The front axle engages and disengages automatically
when you shift the transfer case. Some delay for
the axle to engage or disengage is normal.
Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is
located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use this dial to shift into and out of four-wheel drive.
You can choose among ve driving settings:
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting will
stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take the
vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. An indicator
light will ash while shifting. It will stay on 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.
2-40

OnStar Virtual Advisor
OnStar Virtual Advisor is a feature of OnStar
Hands-Free Calling that uses minutes to access
location-based weather, local traffic reports, and
stock quotes. Press the phone button and give a
few simple voice commands to browse through the
various topics. See the OnStar Owner’s Guide for
more information. This feature is only available in
the continental U.S.
OnStar Steering Wheel Controls
This vehicle may have a Talk/Mute button that can
be used to interact with OnStar Hands-Free Calling.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-138for
more information.
On some vehicles, the mute button can be used to dial
numbers into voice mail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner’s Guide for more
information.
How OnStar Service Works
The OnStar system can record and transmit vehicle
information. This information is automatically sent to an
OnStar Call Center when the OnStar button is pressed,
the emergency button is pressed, or if the airbags or
AACN system deploy. This information usually includes
the vehicle’s GPS location and, in the event of a crash,
additional information regarding the crash that the vehicle
was involved in (e.g. the direction from which the vehicle
was hit). When the Virtual Advisor feature of OnStar
Hands-Free Calling is used, the vehicle also sends
OnStar the vehicle’s GPS location so they can provide
services where it is located.
OnStar service cannot work unless the vehicle is in a
place where OnStar has an agreement with a wireless
service provider for service in that area. OnStar service
also cannot work unless the vehicle is in a place where
the wireless service provider OnStar has hired for that
area has coverage, network capacity and reception when
the service is needed, and technology that is compatible
with the OnStar service. Not all services are available
everywhere, particularly in remote or enclosed areas, or
at all times.
Location information about the vehicle is only available
if the GPS satellite signals are unobstructed and
available.
2-70

Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-48
Security Light...............................................3-48
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-49
Cruise Control Light......................................3-49
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-49
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-49
Fuel Gage...................................................3-50
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-51
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-51
DIC Operation and Displays
(With DIC Buttons)....................................3-52
DIC Operation and Displays
(Without DIC Buttons)................................3-58
DIC Compass..............................................3-61
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-64
DIC Vehicle Customization
(With DIC Buttons)....................................3-74Audio System(s).............................................3-83
Setting the Clock..........................................3-84
Radio(s)......................................................3-86
Using an MP3 (Radio with CD or
Six-Disc CD Player).................................3-105
Using an MP3 (Radio with CD and DVD
Player)...................................................3-109
XM Radio Messages...................................3-114
Navigation/Radio System..............................3-115
Bluetooth
®.................................................3-115
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) System.........3-127
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-136
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-138
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-138
Radio Reception.........................................3-139
Rear Side Window Antenna..........................3-140
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-140
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-30.
B.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C.Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-35.
D.Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-32.
F.Tow/Haul Mode on page 2-38(If Equipped).
G.Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-51.
H.Audio System(s) on page 3-83.
I.Exterior Lamps on page 3-14.
J.Dome Lamp Override on page 3-19.Instrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-18.Fog Lamps
on page 3-17(If Equipped).
K.Hood Release on page 5-13.
L. Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (If Equipped).
Towing a Trailer on page 4-50.
M. Automatic Transfer Case Control. (If Equipped). See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-40.N.Cruise Control on page 3-12.
O.Tilt Wheel on page 3-6.
P.Horn on page 3-6.
Q.Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-138.
R.Climate Control System on page 3-22orDual
Automatic Climate Control System on page 3-24
(If Equipped).
S.Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-20. Cigarette
Lighter (If Equipped). SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-21.
T.StabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6(If Equipped).
Pedal Adjust Button (If Equipped). SeeAdjustable
Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-30.Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) on page 2-56
(If Equipped). Heated Windshield Washer Fluid
Button (If Equipped). SeeWindshield Washer on
page 3-10.Power Assist Steps on page 2-18
(If Equipped).
U.Glove Box on page 2-78.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):Press this button
located on top of the steering column, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps ash on and off. This
warns others that you are having trouble. Press again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, the vehicle’s
turn signals will not work.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on the steering
wheel.
Tilt Wheel
The vehicle has a tilt wheel that lets the steering wheel
be adjusted.
The tilt steering wheel lever is located on the lower left
side of the column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Then move the steering wheel to a comfortable
position and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
3-6

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
G:Turn and Lane Change Signals
53:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
N:Windshield Wipers
L:Windshield Washer
5:Rear Wiper Delay
Z:Rear Wiper
=:Rear Wiper Wash
Flash-to-Pass.
Information for these features is on the pages following.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the lever all the way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less than one second
until the arrow starts to ash to signal a lane change.
This causes the turn signals to automatically ash three
times. It will ash six times if tow-haul mode is active.
Holding the turn signal lever for more than one second
will cause the turn signals to ash until you release
the lever.
The lever returns to its starting position whenever it is
released.
3-7

Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot
drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the
cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads.
On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more can be maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, cruise control is turned off.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, and the system begins to
limit wheel spin, cruise control will automatically
disengage. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6. When
road conditions allow the cruise control to be safely
used again, it can be turned back on.The cruise control buttons are located on left side of the
steering wheel.
T(On/Off):This button can both activate and turn off
the system. The indicator light on the button turns on
when cruise control is on and turns off when cruise
control is off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):Press to make the
vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously set speed.
SET−(Set/Coast):Press to set the speed or make
the vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel):Press to cancel cruise control without
erasing the set speed from memory.
3-12

Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if the parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake uid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on after the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you are
not using cruise, you might hit a button and go
into cruise when you do not want to. You could be
startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch off until you want to use cruise
control.
1. Press the
Ibutton.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−button located on the steering
wheel and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the
brakes are applied, this shuts off the cruise control. But it
does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle speed reaches about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, press the +RES button on the steering wheel.
The vehicle returns to the previously set speed and stays
there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until the desired speed is reached, then
release it.
To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-13

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce the vehicle speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button on the steering wheel briey. Each
time this is done, the vehicle goes about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will
slow down to the previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s
speed. When going downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. When the brakes are applied the cruise control
turns off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the[button on the steering wheel.
Press theIbutton on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control
is located on the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
3-14

There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system is only affected when the light sensor detects a
change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
the vehicle leaves the garage, it takes approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is bright enough outside. During that
delay, the instrument panel cluster may not be as
bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel
brightness control is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-18.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic headlamp system
off, turn the control to the off position.
The headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. This feature can be programmed using the
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-74.
The regular headlamp system can be turned on when
needed.Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the control is located next
to the exterior lamps control on the instrument panel,
to the left of the steering column.
The ignition must be in the ON/RUN position for the fog
lamps to come on.
#(Fog Lamps):Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light will come on in the instrument panel cluster.
When the fog lamps are turned on, the parking lamps
automatically turn on.
When the headlamps are changed to high-beam, the
fog lamps also go off. When the high-beam headlamps
are turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
3-17