automatic transmission CHEVROLET TAHOE 2004 2.G Owners Manual

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-6
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Delayed Locking...........................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-13
Lockout Protection........................................2-14
Liftgate........................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-16
Manual Windows..........................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-18
Passlock
®....................................................2-20
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-21
Ignition Positions..........................................2-22
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-23
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-24
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-24Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-26
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-30
All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrak
®......................2-35
Parking Brake..............................................2-38
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-39
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-41
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-42
Engine Exhaust............................................2-43
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-44
Mirrors...........................................................2-45
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®, Compass and Temperature
Display....................................................2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display..............2-49
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................2-51
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors.........................2-52
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-52
Outside Power Camper-Type Mirror.................2-53
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors.....................2-53
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-54
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors....................2-54
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-55
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-55
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Programmable Automatic Door
Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic lock/unlock
feature which enables you to program your vehicle’s
power door locks. You can program this feature through
the Driver Information Center (DIC), or by the following
method.
Programmable Locking Feature
The following is the list of available programming
options:
Mode 1:All doors lock when the transmission is shifted
into gear.
Mode 2:All doors lock when the vehicle speed is
greater than 8 mph (13 km/h).
Mode 3:No automatic door locking.
The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the
factory to lock all the doors when the transmission
is shifted into gear. The following instructions detail how
to program your door locks differently than the factory
setting. Choose one of the three programming
options listed above before entering the program mode.To enter the program mode, do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with
the key in LOCK, release the turn
signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, you will
hear the lock switch lock and unlock, the horn
will chirp twice, and a 30 second program timer will
begin. You are now ready to program the
automatic door locks.
3. Select one of the three programming options listed
previously, and press the lock side of the power door
lock switch to cycle through the lock options. You will
have 30 seconds to begin programming. If you
exceed the 30 second limit, the locks will
automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp
twice to indicate that you have left the program
mode. If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning
with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode.
You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to RUN (the locks will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the current auto lock/unlock setting will not
be modied.
See your dealer for more information.
2-11

Programmable Unlocking Feature
The following is the list of available programming
options:
Mode 1:Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P).
Mode 2:All doors unlock when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P).
Mode 3:All doors unlock when the key is removed
from the ignition.
Mode 4:No automatic door unlock.
The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the
factory to unlock the driver’s door once the transmission
is shifted to PARK (P). The following instructions detail
how to program your door locks differently than the
factory setting. Choose one of the four programming
options listed above before entering the program mode.
To enter the program mode, do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with the
key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction
lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock switch
lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a
30-second program timer will begin.
3. You are now ready to program the automatic door
locks. Select one of the four programming options
listed previously, and press the unlock side of
the power door lock switch to cycle through the
unlocking options. You will have 30 seconds
to begin programming. If you exceed the 30-second
limit, the locks will automatically lock and unlock
and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that
you have left the program mode. If this occurs,
repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1
to re-enter the programming mode.
You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to RUN. The locks will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the current auto lock/unlock setting will not be
modied.
See your dealer for more information.
2-12

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission
and features an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster. This display must be
powered anytime the shift lever is capable of being
moved out of PARK (P).
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not 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 will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-39. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-65.
2-26

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving.
You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) in a light duty
automatic transmission, the transmission will drive in
second gear. You may use this feature for reducing the
speed of the rear wheels when you are trying to start
your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces.FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle
is moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into rst
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder, your
transmission is designed to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended to improve heater performance.
2-28

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. See the
appropriate text for the transfer case in your vehicle.
Notice:Driving on pavement in four-wheel drive for
an extended period of time may cause premature
wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive
in four-wheel drive on pavement for extended
periods of time.
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.
Automatic Transfer Case
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-38.
2-30

All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrak®
With this feature, engine power is sent to all four wheels
all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It
is fully automatic, and adjust itself as needed for
road conditions.
The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster.
Use these buttons to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.You can choose among three driving settings:d(Stabilitrak®):This button is used with the
Stabilitrak®system and is also used to shift the transfer
case into Neutral (N). For more information on using
Stabilitrak
®seeStabilitrak®System on page 4-12.
f(All-Wheel Drive):This setting delivers power to
all four wheels as needed depending on road and driving
conditions.
g(4LO):This setting delivers extra torque. You may
never need this setting. It sends maximum power to
all four wheels. You might choose 4LO if you are driving
off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow and
climbing or descending steep hills.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-38.
2-35

If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called″torque
lock.″To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To nd out how, seeShifting Into
Park (P) on page 2-39.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the LOCK position. You have
to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. There is no shift
interlock in this key position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system xed as soon as you can.
2-41

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-18
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-21
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-21
Climate Controls............................................3-22
Climate Control System.................................3-22
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-23
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-27
Rear Air Conditioning System.........................3-34
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.......3-35
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System
and Electronic Climate Controls...................3-37
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-39
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-40
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-41
Tachometer.................................................3-41Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-41
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-42
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-42
Battery Warning Light....................................3-44
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-44
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-45
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light...........................................3-46
Traction Off Light..........................................3-46
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-47
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-48
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-49
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-50
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-53
Cruise Control Light......................................3-54
Four-Wheel-Drive Light..................................3-54
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-54
Fuel Gage...................................................3-55
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-55
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-56
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-56
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-68
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

A. Dome Lamp Override Button. See “Dome Lamps”
underInterior Lamps on page 3-18.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. SeeDual Climate Control System on
page 3-23.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Stabilitrak
®Mode Button
(AWD Vehicles)/Traction Assist System (TAS).
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-30.
E. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-40.
G. Gearshift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26.
H. Tow/Haul Selector Button (If Equipped). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-76.
J. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-22.K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.
L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-12.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-56.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-110.
O. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
P. Parking Brake Release. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-38.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlets. See
Accessory Power Outlets on page 3-21.
R. Storage Area (If Equipped). SeeFront Storage Area
on page 2-63.
S. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-21.
T. Glovebox. SeeGlove Box on page 2-63.
3-5