engine CHEVROLET TAHOE 2010 3.G Owner's Guide

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

Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the
engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and the transfer case
is in N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in P (Park). So be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear—not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave the
vehicle with the engine running unless you
have to. If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you move
the shift lever into P (Park), hold the regular brake pedal
down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away
from P (Park) without first pulling it toward you. If you
can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of P (Park). This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into P (Park) properly before you leave the driver seat.
To find out how, see
Shifting Into Park on page 3‑47.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
P (Park) before you 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,
then you will be able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
3-48

Engine Exhaust
{WARNING:
Engine exhaust contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels, deep snow that
may block underbody airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or sounds strange or
different.
.The exhaust system leaks due to corrosion or
damage.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.The vehicle’s exhaust system has been
modified, damaged or improperly repaired.
.There are holes or openings in the vehicle
body from damage or after-market
modifications that are not completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or if it is suspected
that exhaust is coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the engine running in
an enclosed area such as a garage or a building
that has no fresh air ventilation.
3-50

Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen
or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. Never run the engine in an enclosed
area that has no fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3‑50.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll. Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to. If you have
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
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, always set the parking
brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).
{WARNING:
If the vehicle has a four-wheel drive transfer
case with a N (Neutral) position, and the transfer
case is in N (Neutral), the vehicle may roll, even
if the automatic transmission shift lever is in
P (Park). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear—not in N (Neutral). Always set the
parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park on page 3‑47.
If pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑47.
3-51

Section 4 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Tilt Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Headlamps on Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Auxiliary Roof-Mounted Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Instrument Panel Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Dome Lamp Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Electric Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15 Battery Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Accessory Power Outlet(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . 4-20
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System . . . . 4-26
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System and
Electronic Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . 4-29
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . 4-37
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
4-1

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.
4-12

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

-(Defog):The defog mode is used to clear the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield, floor outlets, and side window vents. In this
mode, the system turns off recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature
is close to freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be
selected while in the defog mode.
0(Defrost): The defrost mode is used to remove fog
or frost from the windshield more quickly. Air is directed
to the windshield and side window vents, with some
directed to the floor vents. In this mode, the system
automatically forces outside air into the vehicle. The
recirculation mode cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode. The air conditioning compressor runs
automatically in this setting, unless the outside
temperature is close to freezing.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
#(Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. An indicator light comes
on to show that the air conditioning is on. The air
conditioning can be selected in any mode as long as
the fan switch is on.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for the vehicle to cool down. It also helps the
system to operate more efficiently. The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.
h(Recirculation):
Press this button to turn the
recirculation mode on or off. An indicator light comes on
to show that recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to quickly cool the
air inside the vehicle. It can be used to help prevent
outside air and odors from entering the vehicle.
The recirculation mode cannot be used with floor,
defrost, or defogging modes. If recirculation is
selected while in one of those modes, the indicator
flashes three times and turns off. The air conditioning
compressor will also come on when this mode is
activated. While in recirculation mode the windows
may fog when the weather is cold and damp. To clear
the fog, select either the defog or defrost mode and
increase the fan speed. The recirculation mode can also
be turned off by turning off the engine.
REAR: Press to turn the rear heating and air
conditioning on. See Rear Air Conditioning and Heating
System
on page 4‑26or Rear Air Conditioning and
Heating System and Electronic Climate Controlson
page 4‑28for more information.
4-19

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger):Press this button to
turn the rear window defogger on or off. The system
automatically turns off several minutes after it has been
activated. The defogger can also be turned off by
turning off the engine. Do not drive the vehicle until all
the windows are clear.
For vehicles with heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror when the rear window defog button
is pressed.
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can
be controlled with this system. The vehicle also has a
flow-through ventilation system described later in this
section.
If this vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
A. Fan Control
B. AUTO
C. Defrost D. Recirculation
E. REAR F. Air Delivery Mode Control
4-20

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.
4-22