ignition CHEVROLET TAHOE 2011 3.G User Guide

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
WARNING (Continued)
gear—not in N (Neutral). If you
are pulling a trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips”
in the owner manual.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See “Parking Brake” in the
owner manual.
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 (if equipped) 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).
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 parking on a hill and the
transmission not shifted 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 9‑4.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
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).Engine Exhaust
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
Exiting the vehicle, without first
shifting into P (Park), may cause
the vehicle to move, and you or
others can be seriously injured.
Because the vehicle has the
Automatic Engine Start/Stop
feature, the vehicle’s engine
might seem to be shut off when
you come to a complete stop.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
However, once the brake pedal is
released, the vehicle can move.
The vehicle’s engine can also
restart at any time.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before
exiting the vehicle.
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑4.
If pulling a trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips” in
the owner manual.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-11
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 the 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.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating
The vehicle has StabiliTrak. Shifting
into Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn
Traction Control and StabiliTrak off.
See“StabiliTrak System” in the
owner manual.
{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”
in the owner manual for more
information.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral) only
when towing the vehicle. See
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” or
“Towing Your Vehicle” in the owner
manual. If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
message stays on, you should take
the vehicle to your dealer for
service. See
Transmission
Messages on page 5‑13.
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” in this section for more
information. Shifting Into Four-Wheel
Drive Low
When Four-Wheel Low is engaged,
vehicle speed should be kept below
64 km/h (40 mph). 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 5 km/h
(3 mph) with the transmission in
N (Neutral). The preferred method
for shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
Low is to have the vehicle moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph). 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.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-13
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 5 km/h (3 mph) 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 5 km/h (3 mph) 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 1.6 to 3.2 km/h
(1 to 2 mph). 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.
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 5 km/h (3 mph)
and the transmission is in
N (Neutral).

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-14 Driving and Operating
Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case into
N (Neutral):
1. Make sure the vehicle is parkedso that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. See
“Parking Brake” in the owner
manual.
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 the transfer case out of
N (Neutral):
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.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle.
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.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
Notice:Using coolant other than
a pre‐mixed DEX-COOL, available
at your dealer, may damage your
vehicle. Any repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always
use a pre‐mixed DEX-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
If the DMCM coolant is empty, the
vehicle must be serviced by your
dealer and a special fill procedure
must be followed.
Notice: Attempting to fill the
DMCM cooling surge tank
yourself when the fluid level is
empty can damage your vehicle.
Your vehicle must be serviced.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and turn the vehicle off.
Remove the DMCM coolant
surge tank pressure cap when
the DMCM cooling system,
including the DMCM coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
DMCM cooling hoses, are no
longer hot. Turn the DMCM
coolant surge tank pressure cap
slowly counterclockwise (left)
about one full turn. Wait
30 seconds.2. Then keep turning the DMCMcoolant surge tank pressure cap
slowly, and remove it.
3. Add the pre‐mixed DEX‐COOL, available at your dealer, to the
DMCM coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the FULL
COLD mark.
4. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN without starting the engine. The
hybrid cooling pumps will run
and any trapped air will purge to
the surge tank.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
10-18 Vehicle Care
affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load your vehicle
with more weight than it was
designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month
or more.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure. You
cannot tell if your tires are properly
inflated simply by looking at them.
Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they're
underinflated. Check the tire's
inflation pressure when the tires are
cold. Cold means your vehicle has
been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1.6 km
(1 mile).
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve stem. Press the tire gauge
firmly onto the valve to get a
pressure measurement. If the cold
tire inflation pressure matches the
recommended pressure on the tireand loading information label, no
further adjustment is necessary.
If the pressure is low, add air until
you reach the recommended
amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by
pushing on the metal stem in the
center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gauge.
Be sure to put the valve caps back
on the valve stems. They help
prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in the
vehicle's tires and transmit the tire
pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS will illuminate
the low tire pressure warning
symbol located on the instrument
panel cluster. If the warning light
comes on, stop as soon as possible
and inflate the tires to the
recommended pressure shown on
the tire loading information label.
See
“Vehicle Load Limits” in the
owner manual for more information.
At the same time a message to
check the pressure in a specific tire
appears on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC
warning message come on at each
ignition cycle until the tires are

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-19
inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed by
the driver. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation
and displays seeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑11.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This
could be an early indicator that the
air pressure in the tire(s) are getting
low and need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label, attached to your vehicle,
shows the size of your vehicle's
original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressure for your
vehicle's tires when they are cold.
See “Vehicle Load Limits” for an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label and its location on
your vehicle. Also see Tire Pressure
on page 10‑17. Your vehicle's TPMS can warn you
about a low tire pressure condition
but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See
“Tire Inspection,”
“Tire Rotation” and“Tires” in the
owner manual for more information.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors. TPMS sensor damage
caused by using an incorrect tire
sealant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use only
the GM approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.
Your vehicle, when new, included a
factory‐installed Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit. This kit uses a GM
approved liquid tire sealant. See
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑24.TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays on
for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message is
also displayed. The low tire warning
light and DIC warning message
come on at each ignition cycle until
the problem is corrected. Some of
the conditions that can cause the
malfunction light and DIC message
to come on are:
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was started but not
completed or not completed
successfully after rotating the
vehicle's tires. The DIC message
and TPMS malfunction light
should go off once the TPMS
sensor matching process is
performed successfully. See
“TPMS Sensor Matching
Process” later in this section.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
10-20 Vehicle Care
.One or more TPMS sensors are
missing or damaged. The DIC
message and the TPMS
malfunction light should go off
when the TPMS sensors are
installed and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See your dealer for
service.
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match your vehicle's original
equipment tires or wheels. Tires
and wheels other than those
recommended for your vehicle
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. See
“Buying New Tires”in the owner
manual.
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning it
cannot detect or signal a low tire
condition. See your dealer for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message comes on
and stays on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. Any time you
rotate your vehicle's tires or replace
one or more of the TPMS sensors,
the identification codes will need to
be matched to the new tire/wheel
position. The sensors are matched
to the tire/wheel positions in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear
tire using a TPMS diagnostic tool.
See your dealer for service.
The TPMS sensors can also be
matched to each tire/wheel position
by increasing or decreasing the
tire's air pressure. If increasing the
tire's air pressure, do not exceed
the maximum inflation pressure
indicated on the tire's sidewall.
To decrease air-pressure out of a
tire you can use the pointed end of
the valve cap, a pencil-style air
pressure gauge, or a key.
You have two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all four
tire/wheel positions. If it takes longer
than two minutes, to match the first
tire and wheel, or more than
five minutes to match all four tire
and wheel positions the matching
process stops and you need to
start over.
The TPMS sensor matching process
is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON/
RUN with the engine off.
3. Press
QandKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
at the same time for
approximately five seconds. The
horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode and