CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER 2008 1.G Owners Manual

When the vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system
will automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy
than Two-Wheel High.
4
m(Four-Wheel High):This setting should be used
when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or
icy roads or in most off-road situations. This setting also
engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle.
4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages
your front axle and delivers extra torque. It sends
maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose
this setting if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, 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 2-32.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-42for more
information.
An indicator light in the knob will show you which
position the transfer case is in. The indicator lights will
come on briey when you turn on the ignition and
one will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. An
indicator light will ash while shifting the transfer case.
It will stay on when the shift is complete. If for some
reason the transfer case cannot make a requested shift,
it will return to the last chosen setting.
If the service Four-Wheel Drive Warning Light on the
instrument panel cluster stays on, you should take your
vehicle to your dealer for service. SeeService
Four-Wheel Drive Warning Light on page 3-47for
further information.Shifting Into Four-Wheel High or Automatic
Four-Wheel Drive
Turn the knob to Four-Wheel High or Automatic
Four-Wheel Drive. This can be done at any speed
unless you are shifting out of Four-Wheel Low. The
indicator light will ash while shifting. It will remain on
when the shift is complete.
2-29

Shifting Into Two-Wheel High
Turn the knob to Two-Wheel High. This can be done
at any speed unless you are shifting out of
Four-Wheel Low.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Low
To shift to Four-Wheel Low, the vehicle’s engine must
be running and the vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 2 mph (3.2 km/h) with the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting
into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 or
2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to Four-Wheel
Low. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator
light to stop ashing and stay on before shifting
the transmission into gear.
If you turn the knob to Four-Wheel Low when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds and not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
2 mph (3.2 km/h) and the transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds, the transfer case will
return to the setting last chosen.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to Four-Wheel High, Auto
Four-Wheel Drive, or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle
must be stopped or moving less than 2 mph (3.2 km/h)
with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the
engine running. The preferred method for shifting out of
Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 or 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to
Four-Wheel High, Auto Four-Wheel Drive, or Two-Wheel
High. You must wait for the Four-Wheel High, Auto
Four-Wheel Drive, or Two-Wheel High indicator light to
stop ashing and stay off before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the knob is turned to Four Wheel-High, Auto
Four-Wheel Drive, or Two-Wheel High when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel High,
Auto Four-Wheel Drive, or Two-Wheel High indicator
light will ash for 30 seconds. It will not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
2 mph (3.2 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
2-30

Shifting into NEUTRAL
Before shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL, rst
make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
5. Turn the transfer case knob all of the way past
Four-Wheel Low and hold it there for a minimum
of 10 seconds. The neutral indicator light will
come on.
6. With the engine running, shift the transmission to
REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the
transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second, to
ensure that the transfer case is in NEUTRAL.
7. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
8. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case out of NEUTRAL, do the
following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the transfer case knob to the desired position
(Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High, or Auto
Four-Wheel Drive).
5. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL,
the indicator light will go out.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the
desired position.
2-31

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake
pedal down with your foot
and pull up on the
parking brake lever located
between the seats.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press in the button at the end of the lever. Hold the
button in as you move the parking brake lever all the
way down.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-38.
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 you must park on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-48.
2-32

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,
your vehicle will be free to roll — even if your
shift lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer case
is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-28. Always put the
shift lever fully in PARK (P) with the parking
brake rmly set. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-48.To shift into PARK (P):
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your foot and set
the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing
the button on the side of the shift lever and
pushing the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF/LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. You know
your vehicle is in PARK (P) if the key can be
removed from the ignition.
2-33

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, your vehicle will be
free to roll – even if your lever is in PARK (P) – if
your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear – not
NEUTRAL. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-28.
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 your
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved 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 pressing
the button on the console shift lever. 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 2-33.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) 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, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-34

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
This vehicle has an electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift lever
is in PARK (P) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
PARK (P), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN and the
regular brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in
the case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than
9 volt) battery.
If your vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery
with low voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-44for more
information.
To shift out of PARK (P) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.If you still are unable to shift out of PARK (P):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever
button again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from PARK (P),
consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
2-35

Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
The exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or the exhaust system has
been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your
vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
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.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-36.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Also see “If You Are Caught in a Blizzard”
underWinter Driving on page 4-29.
2-36

{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.
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 the parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, it will
be free to roll — even if the shift lever is in
PARK (P) — if the transfer case is in NEUTRAL.
So be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear — not in NEUTRAL. SeeFour-Wheel Drive
on page 2-28.Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into PARK (P) on page 2-33.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-48.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up
or down and side to side. The day/night adjustment
allows you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the
lamps behind you. Move the lever to the right for
nighttime use and to the left for daytime use.
2-37

Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Hold the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lamps
behind you. Move the lever to the right for nighttime use
and to the left for daytime use.
There may also be three OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror face. See your dealer/retailer for
more information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-47for more
information on the services OnStar®provides.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®and Compass
Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming rearview
mirror with a compass.
There may be three additional buttons for the OnStar
®
system. See your dealer/retailer for more information
on the system and how to subscribe to OnStar®.
SeeOnStar®System on page 2-47for more information
about the services OnStar®provides.
O(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
The automatic dimming mirror comes on each time the
ignition is turned to start. To turn the automatic
dimming feature off or back on, press the on/off button.
The indicator light on the mirror is lit when the
automatic dimming feature is on.
Compass Operation
Press the on/off button once to turn the compass on
or off.
There is a compass display in the window in the upper
right corner of the mirror face.
Compass Calibration
Press and hold the on/off button to activate the compass
calibration mode. CAL will be displayed in the compass
window on the mirror.
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
If after a few seconds the display does not show a
compass direction, (N for North for example), there may
be a strong magnetic eld interfering with the compass.
Such interference may be caused by a magnetic
antenna mount, note pad holder, or similar object. If the
letter C or CAL appears in the compass window, the
compass may need to be reset or calibrated.
2-38