tow CHEVROLET TAHOE 2007 3.G Owner's Manual

NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your two-wheel
drive vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high
speed may damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting your vehicle.DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
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.
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.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 371
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed
more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes.
You can use THIRD (3) 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.
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SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than THIRD (3) without using your
brakes. 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 select SECOND (2) and the Tow/Haul has
not been selected, the transmission will drive
in SECOND (2) 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.
If you select SECOND (2) and the Tow/Haul has
also been selected, the transmission operation will
be limited to FIRST (1) and SECOND (2) gears.
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 reduces vehicle speed
even more than SECOND (2) without using
your brakes. 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 will not 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. The repair will not be covered by
your warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin
the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
When temperatures are very cold, the
Hydra-Matic
®Automatic Transmission’s gear
shifting may be delayed providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts may
be more noticeable with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
The transmission torque converter clutch operation
is restricted during cold operation. When the
startup transmission temperature is approximately
64°F (18°C) your torque converter clutch will
temporarily not operate. Once the transmission
temperature rises above 68°F (20°C), normal
operation will resume.
148

Tow/Haul Mode
Your 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. See
Towing a Trailer on page 422for 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 422.
149

4n(Four-Wheel Drive Low):This setting also
engages your 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.
StabiliTrak
®will not engage in this mode. See
StabiliTrak®System on page 363for more
information.
{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 156.NEUTRAL (N):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 418or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 417for more
information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays
on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer
for service. See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
message” underDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 270.
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 ash while shifting. It will
remain on when the shift is completed.
152

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down
the parking brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will
ash when the parking brake is applied and
the vehicle is moving at least 5 mph (8 km/h).To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever,
located above the parking brake pedal, with the
parking brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is
released, the brake system warning light will
go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 422.
156

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be 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. 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, use
the steps that follow. With four-wheel drive,
if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL, 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. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 422.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P)
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 NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn 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).
157

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
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 rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and your
transfer case is in NEUTRAL, 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.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and
even catch re. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.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 was not
fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not 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 157.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of PARK (P) before you release the parking
brake.
158

{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to
roll, even if the shift lever is in PARK (P).
So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear — not in NEUTRAL. Always set the
parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 157.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 422.
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®, Compass and
Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have this feature. When on, the
automatic dimming mirror dims to the proper level
to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror has a dual display in the upper right
corner of the mirror face that shows the compass
reading and the outside temperature.
Control buttons for the OnStar
®system are at the
bottom of the mirror. SeeOnStar®System on
page 173for more information about the services
OnStar
®provides.
P(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
162

To adjust for compass variance, do the following:
1. Find your current location and variance
zone number on the following zone map.
2. Press and hold the on/off button untilaZand
a zone number appears in the display. The
compass is now in zone mode.3. Keep pressing the on/off button until the
desired zone number appears in the
display. Release the button. After
approximately four seconds of inactivity, the
new zone number will be locked in and
the compass/temperature display will return.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or
similar material dampened with glass cleaner. Do
not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror
as that may cause the liquid cleaner to enter the
mirror housing.
165

To adjust for compass variance:
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the following zone map.
2. Press and hold the compass/temperature
button for six seconds until a zone number
appears in the display.3. Press the compass/temperature button on the
bottom of the mirror until the new zone
number appears in the display. After you stop
pressing the button, the display will show a
compass direction within a few seconds.
Cleaning the Mirror
Use a paper towel or similar material dampened
with glass cleaner. Do not spray glass cleaner
directly on the mirror as that may cause the liquid
cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Outside Manual Mirrors
Adjust your outside mirrors so you can just see
the side of your vehicle and have a clear view of
objects behind you. The mirrors can be folded
in to enter narrow areas.
The use of hood-mounted air deectors and
add-on convex mirror attachments may adversely
affect mirror performance.
168