headlamp CHEVROLET TAHOE 2010 3.G User Guide

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
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off): Turns off the automatic headlamps and
daytime running lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp
control to the off position again turns the automatic
headlamps or DRL back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the off position only
works for vehicles that are shifted into the P (Park)
position. AUTO (Automatic):
Automatically turns on the
headlamps at normal brightness, together with the
following:
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
; (Parking Lamps): Turns on the parking lamps
together with the following:
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
2 (Headlamps): Turns on the headlamps together with
the following lamps listed below.
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
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When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is
on, the headlamps will turn off automatically 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned off. When the headlamps are
turned on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will
stay on for 10 minutes before automatically turning off
to prevent the battery from being drained. Turn the
headlamp control to off and then back to the headlamp
on position to make the headlamps stay on for an
additional 10 minutes.
Headlamps on Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and the ignition is
off and a door is open. To disable the chime, turn the
light off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on
all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the following
conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
.The engine is running.
.The light sensor determines it is daytime.When the DRL system is on, only the DRL lamps are
on. The taillamps, sidemarker, instrument panel lights,
and other lamps will not be on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system switches from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the exterior lamps
control to the OFF position and then release. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, the transmission must be
in the P (Park) position, before the DRL lamps can be
turned off.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system turns on the headlamps at the normal
brightness, along with the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps, and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then
release it. For vehicles first sold in Canada, the
transmission must be in the P (Park) position, before
the automatic headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel in the defroster grille that regulates
when the automatic headlamps turn on. Do not cover
the sensor or the headlamps will come on whenever the
ignition is on.
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The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
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. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 4‑14.
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). See
DIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 4‑71.
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.
4-13

The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels
of corrective action, this action may be noticeable to
the driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC)
message might be displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or
LOW BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads
as much as possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑61.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, and reading lamps if
they are left on for more than 10 minutes when the
ignition is off. This will keep the battery from
running down.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to connect
auxiliary electrical equipment, such as a cellular
telephone.
There are two under the climate controls, one inside the
center floor console, one on the rear of the center floor
console and one accessory power outlet in the rear
cargo area on the passenger side.
To use an accessory power outlet, remove the
protective cap. When not in use, always cover the
accessory power outlet with the protective cap.
The accessory power outlets are powered, even with
the ignition off. Continuing to use accessory power
outlets while the ignition is in LOCK/OFF may cause
the vehicle's battery to run down.
Notice:If electrical devices are left plugged into a
power outlet, the battery may drain causing the
vehicle not to start or damage to the battery. This
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always unplug all electrical devices when turning
off the vehicle.
4-16

Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):When automatic operation is active
the system will control the inside temperature, the air
delivery, and the fan speed.
Use the steps below to place the entire system in
automatic mode:
1. Press the AUTO button. When AUTO is selected, the display will change to
show the current temperature(s) and AUTO will be
lit on the display. The current delivery mode and
fan speed will also be displayed for approximately
5 seconds.
When AUTO is selected, the air conditioning
operation and air inlet will be automatically
controlled. The air conditioning compressor will
run when the outside temperature is over about
4°C (40°F). The air inlet will normally be set to
outside air. If it is hot outside, the air inlet may
automatically switch to recirculate inside air to
help quickly cool down the vehicle. The light on
the button comes on in recirculation. 2. Set the driver's and passenger's temperature.
To find your comfort setting, start with a 23°C
(74°F) temperature setting and allow about
20 minutes for the system to regulate. Use the
driver's or passenger's temperature buttons to
adjust the temperature setting as necessary. If a
temperature setting of 15°C (60°F) is chosen, the
system remains at the maximum cooling setting.
If a temperature setting of 32°C (90°F) is chosen,
the system remains at the maximum heat setting.
Choosing either maximum setting will not cause
the vehicle to heat or cool any faster.
Do not to cover the solar sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel near the windshield. This sensor
regulates air temperature based on sun load and also
turns on the headlamps. For more information on the
solar sensor, see “Sensors”later in this section.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Pressing the fan switch will override this
delay and change the fan to a selected speed.
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If the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil is
not flowing through the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and it might have some other
system problem.
Security Light
For information regarding
this light and the vehicle's
security system, see
Content Theft-Deterrent
on page 3‑22.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes
on when the fog lamps
are in use.
The light goes out when the fog lamps are turned off.
See Fog Lamps
on page 4‑13for more information.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light
comes on whenever the
cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise control is turned off.
See Cruise Control
on page 4‑8for more information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when
the high-beam headlamps
are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
on page 4‑5for more information.
4-44

The default settings for the customization features were
set when your vehicle left the factory, but may have
been changed from their default state since then.
The customization preferences are automatically
recalled.
To change customization preferences, use the following
procedure.
Entering the Feature Settings Menu
1. Turn the ignition on and place the vehicle inP (Park).
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are turned off.
2. Press the customization button to scroll through the available customizable options.
Feature Settings Menu Items
The following are customization features that allow you
to program settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a language other than
English has been set. This feature allows you to change
the language in which the DIC messages appear to
English. Press the customization button until the PRESS
VTO
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH screen appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button once to display all
DIC messages in English.
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
This feature allows you to select the language in which
the DIC messages will appear.
Press the customization button until the DISPLAY
LANGUAGE screen appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
ENGLISH (default): All messages will appear in
English.
FRANCAIS: All messages will appear in French.
ESPANOL: All messages will appear in Spanish.
NO CHANGE: No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
You can also change the language by pressing the trip
odometer reset stem. See “Language”under DIC
Operation and Displays (Without DIC Buttons) earlier in
this section for more information.
4-72

{WARNING:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try to go straight up.
.Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to find
another route.
.Ease up on the speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
.Attach a flag to the vehicle to be more visible to
approaching traffic on trails or hills.
.Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill
to let opposing traffic know you are there.
.Use headlamps even during the day to make the
vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic.
{WARNING:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed. As you near
the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.
If the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot
make it up the hill:
.Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep
it from rolling backwards and apply the parking
brake.
.If the engine is still running, shift the transmission
to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill in R (Reverse).
.If the engine has stopped running, you need to
restart it. With the brake pedal pressed and the
parking brake still applied, shift the transmission
to P (Park) and restart the engine. Then, shift to
R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly
back down the hill as straight as possible in
R (Reverse).
5-17

Driving in Water
{WARNING:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown. If it is
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive
through rushing water.
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before driving through
it. Do not try it if it is deep enough to cover the wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe —you probably will not get
through. Deep water can damage the axle and other
vehicle parts.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it. At
faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition system
and the vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the tailpipe under water. If the tailpipe is under
water, you will never be able to start the engine. When
going through water, remember that when the brakes
get wet, it might take longer to stop. See Driving in Rain
and on Wet Roads on page 5‑23.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system
for damage and check the fuel lines and cooling system
for any leakage.
The vehicle requires more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving
because some drivers are likely to be impaired —by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
.Drive defensively.
.Do not drink and drive.
.Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
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.Slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles because headlamps can only light
up so much road ahead.
.Watch for animals.
.When tired, pull off the road.
.Do not wear sunglasses.
.Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
.Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle
clean—inside and out.
.Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or
curves.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But, as we get older, these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and
affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive
slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and deep‐standing or
flowing water.
{WARNING:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you
and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about
trying to drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under
your vehicle's tires so they actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
5-23