light CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2010 10.G Owner's Guide

Automatic Transmission Operation
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
If the vehicle is has an automatic transmission, it has an
electronic shift position indicator within the instrument
panel cluster. This display comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ON/RUN position.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
Hydra-Matic®4-Speed
Automatic Transmission
Heavy Duty 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Shown (Light Duty Similar)
See “Range Selection Mode” later in this section.
P (Park): This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily. When parked on a hill,
especially when the vehicle has a heavy load, you
might notice an increase in the effort to shift out of
P (Park). See Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
under Shifting Into Park
on page 3‑47for more
information.
3-32

Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a Tow/Haul mode. The selector button
is located on the end of the column shift lever. You can
use this feature to assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load or if there is a need to charge a battery
installed in a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 5‑47for more information.
When Tow/Haul mode is
selected the Tow/Haul
indicator light will
come on.
The Tow/Haul mode works with the Autoride
®feature,
if the vehicle has this, to enhance the ride when
trailering or with a loaded vehicle. See Autoride
®on
page 5‑46.
Grade Braking (Hydra-Matic®6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
The Grade Braking shift modes can be activated by
pressing the button on the end of the shift control lever.
While in Range Selection Mode , Grade Braking is
deactivated allowing the driver to select a desired range
of gears.
Grade Braking is only active while the Tow/Haul Mode
is selected and you are not in the Range Selection
Mode. See “Tow/Haul Mode listed previously and
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 3‑32for more information on the Range Selection Mode.
3-38

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 five driving settings:
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
the vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light
will flash 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
m(Two-Wheel Drive High):
This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle's software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in this
mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High): Use the four-wheel high
position when you need extra traction, such as on
snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This
setting also engages your front axle to help drive the
vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This setting also
engages the front axle and delivers extra torque.
You may never need this setting. It sends maximum
power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel
Drive Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending
steep hills.
3-40

The vehicle has StabiliTrak®. Shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control
and StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®Systemon
page 5‑6.
{WARNING:
Shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral) can cause
the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). You or someone else could be seriously
injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Parking Brake on page 3‑46.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing
on page 5‑40or Towing
Your Vehicleon page 5‑40for more information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer for service.
See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message” underDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑61.
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 flash 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.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive Low
When Four-Wheel Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph (72 km/h). Extended
high-speed operation in 4L may damage or shorten
the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel Drive Low position, the
ignition must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with
the transmission in N (Neutral). The preferred method
for shifting into Four-Wheel Drive Low is to have
the vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h).
3-41

Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel Drive Low position.
You must wait for the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator
light to stop flashing and remain on before shifting the
transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped flashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
flashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have significant engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from N (Neutral)
while the engine is running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light will flash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the
transmission is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the
transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel Drive High mode.Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Drive Low to Four-Wheel Drive
High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High, the vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in N (Neutral) and the ignition in ON/RUN.
The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel
Drive Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph
(1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel
Drive High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High position.
You must wait for the Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO,
or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator light to stop flashing
and remain on before shifting the transmission
into gear.
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped flashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
flashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have significant engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from N (Neutral)
while the engine is running.
3-42

If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High switch position when
the vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel
Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator
light will flash for 30 seconds but will not complete the
shift unless the vehicle is moving less than 3 mph
(5 km/h) and the transmission is in N (Neutral).
Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. See Parking Brake
on page 3‑46for more
information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral) until it stops and hold it there until the N (Neutral)
light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release the dial to the
Four‐Wheel Drive Low position. The N (Neutral)
light will come on when the transfer case shift to
N (Neutral) is complete. 7. If the engine is running, verify that the transfer
case is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift out of N Neutral do the following: 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off, and shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to the desired transfer case shift position (Two-Wheel Drive High,
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO).
After the transfer case has shifted out of
N (Neutral), the N (Neutral) light will go out.
3-43

4. Release the parking brake prior to moving thevehicle.
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped flashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
flashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
5. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter
the shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer
case from possible damage and will only allow the
transfer case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds.
The transfer case may stay in this mode for up to
three minutes.Four-Wheel Drive (Single Speed
Automatic Transfer Case)
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 for an extended period of
time may cause premature wear on the vehicle's
powertrain. Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel Drive High for extended periods of time.
While driving on clean dry pavement and during tight
turns, you may experience a vibration in the steering
system.
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.
3-44

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.
The vehicle has Four-Wheel-Drive with StabiliTrak
®.
For information on StabiliTrak®, see StabiliTrak®Systemon page 5‑6.
You can choose among three driving settings:
Indicator lights in the switch 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 the
vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will flash 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
m(Two-Wheel Drive High):
This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle's software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in this
mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High): Use the four-wheel high
position when you need extra traction, such as on
snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This
setting also engages the front axle to help drive the
vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
3-45

Service Four Wheel Drive
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer for service.
See“SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message” underDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑61.
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. The indicator
light will flash 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. The indicator light will flash while
shifting. It will remain on when the shift is completed.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter
the shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer
case from possible damage and will only allow the
transfer case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds.
The transfer case may stay in this mode for up to
three minutes.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the regular brake
pedal down, then pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on. See Brake System Warning Light
on
page 4‑36.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
3-46

To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel the pedal release.
Slowly pull your foot up off the park brake pedal. If the
parking brake is not released when you begin to drive,
the brake system warning light will flash and a chime
will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 5‑47.
Shifting Into Park
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
If you have a four-wheel drive transfer case with a
N (Neutral) position, and the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even if(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
the shift lever is in P (Park). So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear—not in
N (Neutral). If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing
a Trailer
on page 5‑47. Always set the parking
brake.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake
on page 3‑46for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) 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 N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand,
the vehicle is in P (Park).
3-47