2006 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual

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S. StabiliTrak® Button. See StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9. T. Glove Box. See Glove Box on page 2-62. 3-5 Hazard Warning Flashers Your hazard warning ﬂashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lamps will ﬂash on and off. Other Warning Devices If you carry reﬂective triangles, you can set them up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle. The hazard warning ﬂasher button is located on top of the steering column. Horn To sound the horn, press the center pad on the steering wheel. Your hazard warning ﬂashers work no matter what position your key is in, and even if the key is not in the ignition. Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal lamps ﬂash on and off. Press the button again to turn the ﬂashers off. When the hazard warning ﬂashers are on, your turn signals will not work. 3-6 Tilt Wheel The tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you drive. You can raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room when you enter and exit the vehicle. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever The tilt lever is located on the driver’s side of the steering column under the turn signal lever. To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the wheel in place. The lever on the left side of the steering column includes the following: (cid:127) G Turn and Lane Change Signals. See Turn and Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8. (cid:127) 53 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9. Flash-to-Pass. See Flash-to-Pass on page 3-9. (cid:127) N Windshield Wipers. See Windshield Wipers on page 3-9. 3-7 (cid:127) (cid:127) L Windshield Washer. See Windshield Washer on page 3-10. (cid:127) I Cruise Control. See Cruise Control on page 3-10. For information on the exterior lamps, see Exterior Lamps on page 3-14. Turn and Lane-Change Signals The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you to signal a turn or a lane change. To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down. When the turn is ﬁnished, the lever will return automatically. To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to ﬂash. Hold it there until you complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself when you release it. An arrow on the instrument panel cluster will ﬂash in the direction of the turn or lane change. As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows ﬂash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal. If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown fuse. See Instrument Panel Fuse Block on page 5-112 and Underhood Fuse Block on page 5-115. Turn Signal On Chime If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km), a chime will sound at each ﬂash of the turn signal and the message TURN SIGNAL ON will also appear in the DIC. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50. To turn the chime and message off, move the turn signal lever to the off position. 3-8 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer 53(Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer): To change the headlamps from low to high beam, push the lever toward the instrument panel. To return to low-beam headlamps, pull the multifunction lever toward you. Then release it. When the high beams are on, this indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will also be on. Flash-to-Pass This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if your headlamps are in the automatic position. To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then release it. If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument panel cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to normal operation. Windshield Wipers You control the windshield wipers by turning the band with the wiper symbol on it. 8(Mist): For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to mist. Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let go. The wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipes, hold the band on mist longer. N(Delay): You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter the delay. 6 (Low Speed): For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away from you to the ﬁrst solid band past the delay settings. 1 (High Speed): For high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to the second solid band past the delay settings. 9(Off): To stop the wipers, move the band to off. 3-9 Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become worn or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. Windshield Washer L(Washer Fluid): There is a paddle marked with the windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction lever. To spray washer ﬂuid on the windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and then either stop or return to your preset speed. {CAUTION: In freezing weather, do not use your washer until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer ﬂuid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your vision. 3-10 Cruise Control 9(Off): This position turns the system off. R(On): This position activates the system. + (Resume/Accelerate): Push the lever to this symbol to make the vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously set speed. r SET I (Set): Press this button to set the speed. With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h). If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off. {CAUTION: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use your cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic. Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel spinning, and you could lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads. Setting Cruise Control {CAUTION: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control. 1. Move the cruise control switch to on. 2. Get up to the speed you want. 3. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and release it. 4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The cruise light on the instrument panel will illuminate when the cruise control is engaged. 3-11 Resuming a Set Speed Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course, disengages the cruise control. But you do not need to reset it. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can move the cruise control switch brieﬂy from on to resume/accelerate. You will go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there. If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, do not hold the switch at resume/accelerate. Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control There are two ways to go to a higher speed: (cid:127) Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. Press the set button at the end of the lever, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You will now cruise at the higher speed. If the accelerator pedal is held longer than 60 seconds, cruise control will turn off. (cid:127) Move the cruise switch from on to resume/ accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switch brieﬂy to resume/accelerate. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control (cid:127) Press in the button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. To slow down in very small amounts, brieﬂy press the set button. Each time you do this, you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. 3-12 (cid:127) Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier. Using Cruise Control on Hills How well your cruise control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers ﬁnd this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills. Ending Cruise Control To turn off the cruise control, do one of the following: (cid:127) Step lightly on the brake pedal, (cid:127) move the cruise control switch to off, or shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N). If your vehicle has the StabiliTrak® feature, cruise control will turn off if road conditions cause StabiliTrak® to activate. If the accelerator pedal is held longer than 60 seconds, cruise control will turn off. The cruise control will turn off automatically if the traction control system or StabiliTrak® system activate, if your vehicle is equipped with either feature. Erasing Speed Memory When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased. 3-13 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Exterior Lamps The control on the driver’s side of your instrument panel operates the exterior lamps. The exterior lamp control has four positions: 9(Off): Turn the knob to this position and release it to turn off all exterior lamps including the DRL. To turn any lamps back on when in the off mode, turn the knob to the desired lamp mode. To return to the AUTO mode, turn the knob to the off position and release it. The off or AUTO mode will also cancel and the lamps will return to the AUTO when the vehicle is turned off. This mode is not available for vehicles sold in Canada. 3-14 AUTO: Turn the control to this position to put the system into automatic headlamp mode. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) will also be activated if it is light enough outside. ;(Parking Lamps): Turn the control to this position to turn on the parking lamps, together with the following: (cid:127) Sidemarker Lamps Taillamps License Plate Lamps Instrument Panel Lights 2(Headlamps): Turn the control to this position to turn on the headlamps, together with the previously listed lamps and lights. When the vehicle is turned off and the headlamps are in AUTO, the headlamps may automatically remain on for a set time. You can change this delay time using the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-46. You can switch your headlamps from low to high-beam by pushing the turn signal/multifunction lever toward the instrument panel. (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Headlamps on Reminder If a door is open, a reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned on and your key is out of the ignition. To turn off the chime, turn the headlamp switch to off or AUTO and then back on. In the AUTO mode, the headlamps turn off once the ignition is in LOCK or may remain on until the headlamp delay ends (if enabled in the DIC). Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada. The DRL system will come on when the following conditions are met: The ignition is on, the exterior lamps control is in AUTO, the transmission is not in PARK (P), and the light sensor determines it is daytime. When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be on. The instrument panel won’t be lit up either. When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp system will switch from DRL to the headlamps. As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular headlamp system when you need it. Automatic Headlamp System When it is dark enough outside and the headlamp switch is in AUTO, your automatic headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the normal brightness along with other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, roof marker 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. Turning off the automatic headlamp system with the headlamp switch is not available for vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, you can turn off the automatic headlamp system when parked at night by applying the parking brake before starting your vehicle. The headlamps will remain off once the vehicle is started for as long as you are parked. If you release the parking brake, the lights will turn on. If the parking brake is not released before you begin to drive, the exterior lamps will turn on above 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 3-15 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered, or the system will be on whenever the ignition is on. The system may also turn on your 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 will only be affected when the light sensor sees a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay. If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic headlamp system will come on immediately. Once you leave the garage, it will take approximately one minute for the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay, your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness control is in the full bright position. See Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-17. Fog Lamps If your vehicle has fog lamps you can use them for better vision in foggy or misty conditions. Your parking lamps and/or low-beam headlamps must be on for your fog lamps to work. 3-16 The fog lamp button is located on the left side of your instrument panel. Press the button to turn the fog lamps on while the headlamps or parking lamps are on. Press the button again to turn them off. An indicator light will glow near the button when the fog lamps are on. Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much light as your headlamps. Never use your fog lamps in the dark without turning on the headlamps. The fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam headlamps come on. When the high beams go off, the fog lamps will come on again. The fog lamps will be cancelled after the ignition is turned off. If you still want to use the fog lamps after you restart the vehicle, you will need to press the fog lamp button again. Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps. Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp If your vehicle has this feature, this button includes wiring provisions for a dealer or a qualiﬁed service center to install an auxiliary roof lamp. This button is located on the center of the instrument panel near the climate controls. Exterior Cargo Lamps You can use the cargo lamp if you need more light in the cargo area of your vehicle or in the top-box storage units. Some vehicles will only have a cargo lamp in the passenger side top box. Press the button, with this symbol to turn the cargo lamps on or off. When the wiring is connected to an auxiliary roof mounted lamp, pressing the button will activate the lamp and illuminate an indicator light near the button. Pressing the button again will turn off the roof mounted lamp. If your vehicle has this button, your vehicle may have the snow plow prep package. For further information see Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment on page 4-52. The cargo lamps symbol light will come on in the instrument panel cluster when the cargo lamps are on and the ignition key is turned to run. Instrument Panel Brightness The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to the exterior lamps control. D (Instrument Panel Lights): Turn the thumbwheel up or down to brighten or dim the instrument panel lights and the radio display. This will only work if the headlamps or parking lamps are on. To turn on the dome lamps, with the vehicle doors closed, turn the thumbwheel all the way up. 3-17 Dome Lamps The dome lamps will come on when you open a door or the midgate, if equipped, and will turn off when all doors or midgate are closed. You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamp control, all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps will remain on whether a door is opened or closed. Dome Lamp Override E (Dome Lamp Override): You can use the dome override button, located below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps to come on automatically when a door is opened, or to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button into the in position. With the button in this position, the dome lamps will remain off when the doors are open. To return the lamps to automatic operation, press the button again and return it to the out position. With the button in this position, the dome lamps will come on when you open a door. Entry/Exit Lighting Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry/exit feature. When a door is opened or the key is removed from the ignition, the dome lamps will come on if the dome override button is in the out position. Reading Lamps If your vehicle has reading lamps, press the button located next to the lamp to turn it on or off. The lamps can be adjusted to point in the direction you want. Your vehicle may also have reading lamps in other locations. To turn on or off, press the button located next to the lamp. The lamps cannot be adjusted. Battery Run-Down Protection This feature shuts off the dome lamps if they are left on for more than 10 minutes when the ignition is in LOCK. This will keep your battery from running down. 3-18 Accessory Power Outlet(s) Your vehicle may be equipped with two accessory power outlets located on the instrument panel. Your vehicle may also have an outlet on the back of the center console above the cupholder door. Notice: Adding any electrical equipment to your vehicle may damage it or keep other components from working as they should. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not use equipment exceeding maximum amperage rating. Check with your dealer before adding electrical equipment. Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible to the accessory power outlets and could result in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem, see your dealer for additional information on the accessory power plugs. Notice: damage not covered by your warranty. Do not hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket from the plug because the power outlets are designed for accessory power plugs only. Improper use of the power outlet can cause If you put papers, pins, or other ﬂammable Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter If your vehicle has this feature it is located in the center console or on the instrument panel. Pull up on the ashtray door to open it if it is in the console or pull the door open it if it is on the instrument panel. Notice: items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking materials could ignite them and possibly damage your vehicle. Never put ﬂammable items in the ashtray. To remove the ashtray, pull it out from the console or from the slide out door. To reinstall the ashtray, slide it back to the original position. To use the cigarette lighter, if equipped, push it in all the way, and let go. When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself. Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is heating will not allow the lighter to back away from the heating element when it is hot. Damage from overheating may occur to the lighter or heating element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a cigarette lighter in while it is heating. 3-19 Mode Control Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to direct the airﬂow inside of your vehicle. To change the current mode, select one of the following: H (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument panel vents. )(Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the instrument panel vents; then directs most of the remaining air to the ﬂoor vents. A little air is directed toward the windshield and the side window vents. Cooler air is directed to the upper vents and warmer air to the ﬂoor vents. 6 (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the ﬂoor vents with a little air directed to the windshield and the side window vents. Climate Controls Dual Climate Control System With this system you can control the heating, cooling and ventilation for your vehicle. Fan Control 9(Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed. Turn the knob to the off position to turn off the fan. If the knob is in off outside air will still enter the vehicle, and will be directed based on the position of the mode knob. The temperature can also be adjusted using the temperature levers. 3-20 h (Recirculation): The recirculation mode is used to recirculate the air inside of your vehicle. Use this mode to help prevent outside odors and/or dust from entering your vehicle or to help cool the air inside of your vehicle more quickly. Press this button to turn the recirculation mode on or off. The light on the recirculation button will illuminate. Recirculation cannot be used in ﬂoor, defog or defrost modes. An indicator on the button will light up, ﬂash three times and turn off when recirculation is selected in these modes. 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 fan speed. Temperature Control Driver’s Side: The lever on the left side of the climate control panel is used to raise or lower the temperature on the driver’s side of the vehicle. This lever also adjusts the temperature to the center console outlets (if equipped). Passenger’s Side: The lever on the right side of the climate control panel is used to raise or lower the temperature on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. #(Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn the air-conditioning system on or off. When the button is pressed, an indicator light will come on and the system will begin to cool and dehumidify the air inside of your vehicle. You may notice a slight change in engine performance when the air conditioning compressor shuts off and turns on again. This is normal. Defogging and Defrosting There are two modes to choose from to clear fog or frost from your windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture and warm the passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the windshield more quickly. Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to select one of the following modes: -(Defog): This mode directs the air to the ﬂoor outlets, windshield and the side window vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically to dehumidify the air to prevent window fogging. The recirculation mode cannot be selected while in the defog mode. 1(Defrost): This mode directs most of the air to the windshield and the side window vents, with only a little air directed to the ﬂoor vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically to dehumidify the air to prevent window fogging. The recirculation mode cannot be selected while in defrost mode. 3-21 Dual Automatic Climate Control System With this system, you can control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle. You can select different climate control settings for the driver and passengers. Rear Window Defogger If your vehicle has a rear defogger, the lines you see on the rear window warm the glass. The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. < (Rear): Press this button to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light in the button will come on to let you know that the rear window defogger is activated. The rear window defogger will automatically turn off several minutes after the button is pressed. Pressing the button while the defogger is running can also turn off the defogger. If your vehicle is equipped with heated mirrors this button will activate them. 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 your warranty. Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar to the defogger grid. 3-22 Driver’s Side Temperature Knob The driver’s side knob is used to adjust the temperature of the air coming through the system on the driver’s side. The temperature can be adjusted even if the system is turned off. This is possible since outside air will always ﬂow through the system as the vehicle is moving forward unless it is set to recirculation mode. See “Recirculation” later in this section. Turn the knob counterclockwise or clockwise to lower or increase the cabin temperature. The display will show the temperature setting decreasing or increasing and an arrow pointing to the driver will be displayed under and to the left of the temperature setting. Passenger’s Side Temperature Knob The passenger’s side knob can be used to change the temperature of the air coming through the system on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The temperature can be adjusted even if the system is turned off. This is possible since outside air will always ﬂow through the system as the vehicle is moving forward unless it is set to recirculation mode. See “Recirculation” later in this section. Turn the knob counterclockwise or clockwise to lower or increase the cabin temperature. The display will show the temperature setting decreasing or increasing and an arrow pointing to the passenger will be displayed under and to the right of the temperature setting. The passenger’s temperature setting can be set to match the driver’s temperature setting by pressing and holding the AUTO button for four seconds. Both the driver and passenger arrows will be displayed. 3-23 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 driver’s set temperature, delivery mode and fan speed. Press the AUTO button again within ﬁve seconds to display the passenger’s set temperature. If the driver’s and passenger’s temperature settings are the same when AUTO is pressed, the temperature setting and both arrows will be displayed for ﬁve seconds along with the automatic air delivery mode and fan speed. After the ﬁve-second update, the display will change to show the temperature setting, both arrows and AUTO. If the driver’s and passenger’s temperature settings are not the same, the opposite side temperature setting will be displayed for an additional ﬁve seconds. To make the passenger’s temperature the same as the driver’s press and hold the AUTO button for about four 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 3-24 temperature is over about 40°F (4°C). The air inlet will normally be set to outside air. If it’s hot outside, the air inlet may automatically switch to recirculate inside air to help quickly cool down your vehicle. The light on the button will illuminate in recirculation. 2. Set the driver’s and passenger’s temperature. To ﬁnd your comfort setting, start with a 74°F (23°C) temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes for the system to regulate. Turn the driver’s or passenger’s side temperature knob to adjust the temperature setting as necessary. If you choose the temperature setting of 60°F (15°C) the system will remain at the maximum cooling setting. If you choose the temperature setting of 90°F (32°C) the system will remain at the maximum heat setting. Choosing either maximum setting will not cause the vehicle to heat or cool any faster. Be careful not to cover the 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 your headlamps. 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. 9(Off): Press this button to turn off the entire climate control system. Outside air will still enter the vehicle, and will be directed to the ﬂoor. This direction can be changed by pressing the mode button. The temperature can also be adjusted using either temperature knob. Press the up or down arrows on the fan switch, the defrost button, the AUTO button, or the air conditioning button to turn the system on when it is off. Manual Operation You may manually adjust the air delivery mode or fan speed. w9x (Fan): The switch with the fan symbol allows you to manually adjust the fan speed. Press the up arrow to increase fan speed and the down arrow to decrease fan speed. Pressing this button when the system is off will turn the system on. C (Mode): Press this button to manually change the direction of the airﬂow in your vehicle. Repeatedly press the button until the desired mode appears on the display. If you press the mode button to select an air delivery mode, the display will change to show you the selected air mode delivery. The display will then show the current status of the system. When the system is turned off, the display will go blank after displaying the current status of the system. H (Panel): This setting will deliver air to the instrument panel outlets. )(Bi-Level): This setting will deliver warmer air to the ﬂoor and cooler air to the instrument panel outlets. 6 (Floor): This setting will deliver air to the ﬂoor outlets. - (Defog): See “Defogging and Defrosting” later in this section. @(Recirculation): Press this button to limit the amount of outside air entering your vehicle. The light on the recirculation button will glow. This is helpful when you are trying to limit odors entering your vehicle and for maximum air conditioning performance in hot weather. Press this button again to allow outside air to enter the vehicle. The light on the recirculation button will go off. Pressing this button also cancels the auto recirculation feature. To resume the auto recirculation function, press the AUTO button. Each time the vehicle is started, the system will revert to the auto recirculation function. If you select recirculation while in defrost, defog or ﬂoor, the light in the button will ﬂash and then go out to let you know that this is not allowed. This is normal and helps to prevent fogging. 3-25 On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed for the air conditioner to work its best. On cool, but sunny days while using manual operation of the automatic system, use bi-level to deliver warm air to the ﬂoor and cooler air to the instrument panel outlets. To warm or cool the air delivered, turn the temperature knob to the desired setting. In AUTO mode the system will cool and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle. Also while in AUTO mode, the system will maximize its performance by using recirculation as necessary. 9(Off): Press this button to turn off the entire climate control system. Outside air will still enter the vehicle, and will be directed to the ﬂoor. This direction can be changed by pressing the mode button. The temperature can also be adjusted using either temperature knob. Press the up or down arrows on the fan switch, the defrost button, the AUTO button, or the air conditioning button to turn the system on when it is off. When the weather is cool or damp, operating the system in recirculation for extended periods of time may cause fogging of the vehicle’s windows. To clear the fog, select either defog or front defrost. You may also notice that the A/C compressor will run while in recirculation mode. This is normal and helps to prevent fogging. #(Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn the air conditioning (A/C) compressor on and off. The snowﬂake symbol will appear on the display when the A/C is on and will turn off when the air conditioning is off. Pressing this button when the outside temperature is too cool for air conditioning to be effective will make the snowﬂake symbol ﬂash three times and then turn off to let you know that the air conditioning mode is not available. If the air conditioning is on and the outside temperature drops below a temperature which is too cool for air conditioning to be effective, the snowﬂake symbol will turn off to let you know that the air conditioning mode has been canceled. When air conditioning is selected or in AUTO mode, the system will run the air conditioning automatically to cool and dehumidify the air entering the vehicle. If you select A/C off while in front defrost, defog or recirculation, the A/C snowﬂake symbol will turn off, but the A/C compressor will still run to help prevent fogging. 3-26 Defogging and Defrosting You can use either defog or front defrost to clear fog or frost from your windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture. Use the front defrost button to defrost the front windshield. -(Defog): Use this setting to clear the windows of fog or moisture. Press the mode button to select this setting. This setting will deliver air to the ﬂoor and windshield outlets. 0 (Defrost): Press this button to defrost the windshield. The system will automatically control the fan speed if you select defrost from AUTO mode. If the outside temperature is 40°F (4°C) or warmer, your air conditioning compressor will automatically run to help dehumidify the air and dry the windshield. Rear Window Defogger If your vehicle has this feature, the lines you see on the rear window warm the glass. The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. <(Rear): Press this button to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light in the button will come on to let you know that the rear window defogger is activated. The rear window defogger will turn off about 10 minutes after the button is pressed. If you need additional warming time, press the button again. If your vehicle is equipped with heated mirrors, this button will also turn the heated mirrors on or off. Notice: Do not use a razor blade or sharp object to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass. These actions may damage the rear defogger. Repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Outlet Adjustment Your vehicle has air outlets located in the center and on the side of your instrument panel that allow you to adjust the direction and amount of airﬂow inside the vehicle. Move the louvers up or down. Use the thumbwheel next to or underneath the outlet to close the louvers. For the most efficient airﬂow and temperature control, keep the outlet in the fully opened position. 3-27 Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on brieﬂy when you start the engine just to let you know they are working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there is a problem with your vehicle. When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They are a big help. Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center (DIC) that works along with warning lights and gages. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50. Operation Tips (cid:127) Keep the hood and front air inlets free of ice, snow, or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. (cid:127) Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle. (cid:127) Adding outside equipment to the front of your vehicle, such as hood-air deﬂectors, etc., may affect the performance of the heating and air conditioning system. Check with your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle. Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. 3-28 Instrument Panel Cluster United States 2500 series shown, 1500 series and Canada similar Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, about how much fuel you have and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely and economically. 3-29 Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your vehicle’s odometer works together with the driver information center. You can set a Trip A and Trip B odometer. See “Trip Information” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-47. The odometer mileage can be checked without the vehicle running. Simply press the trip stem on the instrument panel cluster. If your vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed, the new one will be set to the correct mileage total of the old odometer. Trip Odometer The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero. Press the reset button, located on the instrument panel cluster next to the trip odometer display, to toggle between the trip odometer and the regular odometer. Holding the reset button for approximately one second while the trip odometer is displayed will reset it. To display the odometer reading with the ignition off, press the reset button. 3-30 Tachometer Your tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm). Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will be provided for several seconds to remind people to buckle their safety belts. The driver safety belt light will also be provided and stay on for several seconds, then it will ﬂash for several more. You should buckle your seat belt. This chime and light will be repeated if the driver remains unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50 for more information on driver and passenger safety belt reminders. If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor the light will come on. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61 for more information. Airbag Readiness Light There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system check includes the airbag sensors, the airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on the airbag system, see Airbag System on page 1-52. This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and it will ﬂash for a few seconds. Then the light should go out. This means the system is ready. If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away. {CAUTION: If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle, it means the airbag system may not be working properly. The airbags in your vehicle may not inﬂate in a crash, or they could even inﬂate without a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle serviced right away if the airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle. The airbag readiness light should ﬂash for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it ﬁxed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. 3-31 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator If your vehicle has a passenger sensing system, your rearview mirror will have a passenger airbag status indicator. Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the right front passenger’s frontal airbag. If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger airbag status indicator, it means that the right front passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inﬂate). {CAUTION: If the on indicator comes on when you have a rear-facing child restraint installed in the right front passenger’s seat, it means that the passenger sensing system has not turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag. A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger’s seat if the airbag is turned on. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – United States Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – Canada When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START, the passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a system check. 3-32 Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing system. See your dealer for service. {CAUTION: If the off indicator and the airbag readiness light ever come on together, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger seat may not have the protection of the frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-31. {CAUTION: Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is failsafe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61 for more on this, including important safety information. 3-33 Charging System Light Voltmeter Gage The charging system light will come on brieﬂy when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. When your engine is not running, but the ignition is in RUN, this gage shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts. When the engine is running, the gage shows the condition of the charging system. The gage may transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher reading, this is normal. Readings between the low and high warning zones indicate the normal operating range. It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the charging system. It could indicate that you have problems with a generator drive belt, or another electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. When this light comes on the DIC will also display the battery not charging message. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50. If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner. 3-34 Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a large number of electrical accessories are operating in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an extended period. This condition is normal since the charging system is not able to provide full power at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds allow the charging system to create maximum power. You can only drive for a short time with the reading in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all unnecessary accessories. Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible. Brake System Warning Light With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will ﬂash when you set the parking brake. The light will ﬂash if the parking brake doesn’t release fully. If you try to drive with the parking brake engaged, a chime will sound when the vehicle speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h). Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need both parts working well. If the warning light comes on and a chime sounds there could be a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away. United States Canada This light should come on brieﬂy when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it ﬁxed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. 3-35 If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push or may go closer to the ﬂoor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-57. {CAUTION: Your brake system may not be working properly if the brake system warning light is on. Driving with the brake system warning light on can lead to an accident. If the light is still on after you have pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for service. Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on when you start your engine and may stay on for several seconds. That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it ﬁxed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, your vehicle needs service. You will also hear a chime sound when the light is on steady. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also on you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. In addition to both lights, you will also hear a chime sound on the ﬁrst occurrence of a problem and each time the vehicle is shut off and then restarted. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-35. 3-36 Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Traction Off Light This light and a chime will come on along with the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message in the DIC when one or more of your tires is signiﬁcantly under-inﬂated. If you have the StabiliTrak® system, this light should come on brieﬂy when you turn the ignition to RUN. This light will also come on brieﬂy when you start the engine. See “CHECK TIRE PRESSURE” under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50 for more information. Stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inﬂate them to the proper pressure as indicated on the vehicle’s certiﬁcation/tire label. See Tires on page 5-62 for more information on your vehicle’s tires. If the light does not come on then, the system may require service; have it ﬁxed so it will be there to warn you if the system is turned off. This light will also come on when the StabiliTrak® system is turned off. For more information on StabiliTrak®, see StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9. 3-37 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Transmission Temperature Gage United States Canada United States Canada This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle is working. During a majority of the operation, the gage will read 210°F (100°C) or less. If you are pulling a load or going up hills, it is normal for the temperature to ﬂuctuate and approach the 250°F (122°C) mark. If the gage reaches the 260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates that the cooling system is working beyond its capacity. See Engine Overheating on page 5-30. Your vehicle may be equipped with a transmission temperature gage. When your ignition is on, the gage shows the temperature of the transmission ﬂuid. The normal operating range is from 180°F (82°C) to about 200°F (93°C). At approximately 265°F (130°C), the driver information center will display a TRANSMISSION HOT message and the transmission will enter a transmission protection mode. When the transmission enters the protection mode, you may notice a change in the transmission shifting patterns. The transmission will return to normal shifting patterns when the transmission ﬂuid temperature falls below 260°F (127°C). 3-38 See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-46 for further information. If your vehicle has an Allison transmission, and the ﬂuid reaches temperatures of approximately 275°F (135°C) or greater, the driver information center will display a TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE warning message and a chime will sound until the temperature falls below 265°F (129°C). Pull the vehicle off the roadway when it is safe to do so. Set the parking brake, place the transmission in PARK (P) and allow the engine to idle until the transmission temperature falls below 265°F (129°C). If the transmission continues to operate above 265°F (130°C), contact your nearest dealer or the GM Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. Notice: transmission temperature gage above normal operating range, you can damage the transmission. This could lead to costly repairs that would not be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your vehicle while the transmission temperature gage reading is above normal. See your dealer for service. If you drive your vehicle with the The following situations can cause the transmission to operate at higher temperatures: Towing a trailer (cid:127) Hot outside air temperatures (cid:127) Vehicle overloading (cid:127) Hauling a large or heavy load Low transmission ﬂuid level (cid:127) High transmission ﬂuid level (cid:127) Restricted air ﬂow to the radiator and the auxiliary transmission oil cooler (if equipped). A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down. If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on a frequent basis, see Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 for the proper transmission maintenance intervals. 3-39 (cid:127) (cid:127) Malfunction Indicator Lamp Check Engine Light Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems. This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The check engine light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction. Notice: light on, after awhile, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good, and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty. If you keep driving your vehicle with this 3-40 Notice: Modiﬁcations made to the engine, transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with other than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission controls and may cause this light to come on. Modiﬁcations to these systems could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 5-3. This light should come on, as a check to show you it is working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not running. If the light does not come on, have it repaired. This light will also come on during a malfunction in one of two ways: Light Flashing — A misﬁre condition has been detected. A misﬁre increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required. Light On Steady — An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required. (cid:127) (cid:127) If the Light is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: (cid:127) Reducing vehicle speed (cid:127) Avoiding hard accelerations (cid:127) Avoiding steep uphill grades If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible If the light stops ﬂashing and remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light continues to ﬂash, when it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still ﬂashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer for service as soon as possible. If the Light Is On Steady You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle? If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See Filling the Tank on page 5-9. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light off. Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water? If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off. Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misﬁring, hesitation on acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the light to turn on. If you experience one or more of these conditions, change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off. If none of the above steps have made the light turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to ﬁx any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed. 3-41 (cid:127) Oil Pressure Gage United States Canada The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa (kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range. Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check engine light is on or not working properly. Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the vehicle for inspection. 3-42 A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a dangerously low oil level or some other problem causing low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as possible. See Engine Oil on page 5-17. Security Light {CAUTION: Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches ﬁre. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced. Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may damage the engine. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always follow the maintenance schedule in this manual for changing engine oil. This light will come on brieﬂy when you turn the key toward START. The light will stay on until the engine starts. If the light ﬂashes, the Passlock® system has entered a tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, see Passlock® on page 2-26. If the light comes on continuously while driving and stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock® system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock®, and you should see your dealer. Also, see Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-24 for additional information regarding the security light. 3-43 Cruise Control Light Tow/Haul Mode Light This light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. This light is displayed when the tow/haul mode has been activated. The light will go out when the cruise control is turned off. See Cruise Control on page 3-10 for more information. Highbeam On Light For more information, see “Tow/Haul Mode” under Towing a Trailer on page 4-62. Cargo Lamp Light This light will come on when the high-beam headlamps are in use. This light will come on when the cargo lamp is in use. For more information see Exterior Cargo Lamps on page 3-17. See Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9. 3-44 Fuel Gage United States Canada When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left in your tank. The gage will ﬁrst indicate empty before you are out of fuel, and you should get more fuel as soon as possible. When the fuel tank is low the FUEL LEVEL LOW message will appear. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50 for more information. Here are some situations you may experience with your fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem with the fuel gage. (cid:127) At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full. It takes a little more or less fuel to ﬁll up than the fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to ﬁll the tank. The gage goes back to empty when you turn off the ignition. Low Fuel Warning Light The light next to the fuel gage will come on brieﬂy when you are starting the engine. This light comes on when the fuel tank is low on fuel. To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank. See Fuel on page 5-5. 3-45 (cid:127) (cid:127) Driver Information Center (DIC) The Driver Information Center (DIC) display is located on the instrument panel cluster, below the speedometer. If your vehicle has DIC buttons, they are located on the steering wheel. The DIC can display information such as the trip odometer, fuel economy, customization features, and warning/status messages. If your vehicle does not have DIC steering wheel buttons, you will not have all of the features listed. Scroll through the odometer, trip odometer, and engine hours by pressing the trip odometer reset stem located on the instrument panel cluster. Turn off, or acknowledge, DIC messages by pressing the trip odometer reset stem. See Speedometer and Odometer on page 3-30 for information on features for vehicles without DIC buttons. 3-46 3 (Trip Information): Press this button to display the odometer, trip odometers, tire pressure for vehicles with a tire pressure monitor, timer, and engine hours. t (Fuel Information): Press this button to display the current range, fuel used, average fuel economy, and engine oil life. 4 (Customization): Press this button to access the vehicle settings menu and customize the personal settings on your vehicle. r (Select): Press this button to reset certain DIC functions and set your customization settings. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will acknowledge DIC messages and clear them from the DIC display. DIC Operation and Displays The Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on when the ignition is on. After a short delay, the DIC will display the information that was last displayed before the engine was turned off. The DIC has different modes which can be accessed by pressing the four DIC buttons located on the steering wheel. These buttons are trip information, fuel information, customization, and select. The button functions are detailed in the following pages. Trip Information Button 3 (Trip Information): Press the trip information button to scroll through the ODOMETER, TRIP A, TRIP B, TIRE PRESSURES, TIMER, and ENGINE HOURS. Odometer: Press the trip information button until ODOMETER appears on the display. This mode shows the total distance the vehicle has been driven in either miles or kilometers. Pressing the reset stem located on the instrument cluster with the vehicle off will also display the odometer. Trip A: Press the trip information button until TRIP A appears on the display. This mode shows the current distance traveled since the last reset for TRIP A in either miles or kilometers. Trip B: Press the trip information button until TRIP B appears on the display. This mode shows the current distance traveled since the last reset for TRIP B in either miles or kilometers. To reset TRIP A or TRIP B information, press and hold the select button for one second while in one of the trip modes. This will reset the information for TRIP A or TRIP B. You can also reset TRIP A or TRIP B while they are displayed by pressing the reset stem on the cluster. If you press and hold the reset stem or the select button for four seconds, the display will show the distance traveled since the last ignition cycle for TRIP A or TRIP B. See Trip Odometer on page 3-30 for more information. 3-47 Tire Pressures: The tire pressure mode is available only on vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitor. Press the trip information button until TIRE PRESSURES appears on the display. This mode shows the tire pressure in pounds per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa). Press the select button to scroll through the following information: LF TIRE shows the tire pressure for the front driver’s side tire. (cid:127) RF TIRE shows the tire pressure for the front passenger’s side tire. LR TIRE shows the tire pressure for the rear driver’s side tire. (cid:127) RR TIRE shows the tire pressure for the rear passenger’s side tire. Timer: The DIC can be used as a timer. Press the select button while TIMER is displayed to start the timer. The display will show the amount of time that has passed since the timer was last reset, not including time the ignition is off. Time will continue to be counted as long as the ignition is on, even if another display is being shown on the DIC. The timer will record up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds (99:59:59) after which the display will roll back to zero. To stop the counting of time, press the select button brieﬂy while TIMER is displayed. 3-48 To reset the timer to zero, press and hold the select button while TIMER is displayed. Engine Hours: Press the trip information button until ENGINE HOURS appears on the display. This mode shows the total number of hours the engine has run. Pressing and holding the reset stem located on the instrument cluster for about four seconds will also display the engine hour information after the odometer is displayed when the vehicle is off. Fuel Information Button t (Fuel Information): Press the fuel information button to scroll through the range, fuel used, average fuel economy, and the engine oil life system. Fuel Range: Press the fuel information button until RANGE appears on the display. This mode shows the remaining distance you can drive without refueling. It is based on fuel economy and the fuel remaining in the fuel tank. The display will show LOW if the fuel level is low. The fuel economy data used to determine fuel range is an average of recent driving conditions. As your driving conditions change, this data is gradually updated. Fuel range cannot be reset. (cid:127) (cid:127) Fuel Used: Press the fuel information button until FUEL USED appears on the display. This mode shows the number of gallons or liters of fuel used since the last reset of this menu item. To reset the fuel used information, press and hold the select button for one second while FUEL USED is displayed. Average Fuel Economy: Press the fuel information button until AVG ECON appears on the display. This mode shows how many miles per gallon (MPG) or liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km) your vehicle is getting based on current and past driving conditions. Press and hold the select button for one second while AVG ECON is displayed to reset the average fuel economy. Average fuel economy will then be calculated starting from that point. If the average fuel economy is not reset, it will be continually updated each time you drive. Engine Oil Life System: Press the fuel information button until ENGINE OIL LIFE appears on the display. The engine oil life system shows an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. It will show 100% when the system is reset after an oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on a schedule consistent with your driving conditions. Always reset the engine oil life system after an oil change. To reset the engine oil life system, see Engine Oil Life System on page 5-20. In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring the oil life, additional maintenance is recommended in the Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See Engine Oil on page 5-17 and Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4. Customization Button 4 (Customization): Press the customization button to access the VEHICLE SETTINGS menu and customize the settings to your vehicle. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-60 for more information. Select Button r (Select): Press the select button to reset certain DIC functions and set your customization settings. For example, this button will reset the trip odometers and enables you to scroll through and select the language in which the DIC information will appear. 3-49 DIC Warnings and Messages Warning messages are displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) to notify the driver that the status of the vehicle has changed and that some action may be needed by the driver to correct the condition. If there is more than one message that needs to be displayed, they will appear one after another. Some messages may not require immediate action, but you should press any of the four DIC buttons on the steering wheel to acknowledge that you received the messages and clear them from the display. If your vehicle does not have DIC buttons on the steering wheel, press the trip odometer reset stem located on the instrument panel cluster to acknowledge messages and to clear them from the display. Some messages cannot be cleared from the display because they are more urgent. These messages require action before they can be removed from the DIC display. You should take any messages that appear on the display seriously and remember that clearing the messages will only make the messages disappear, not correct the problem. The following are the possible messages that can be displayed and some information about them. BATTERY NOT CHARGING On some vehicles, if the battery is not charging during operation, this message will appear on the DIC. Driving with this problem could drain your battery. Have the electrical system checked by your GM dealer as soon as possible. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. See Charging System Light on page 3-34 and Voltmeter Gage on page 3-34. BUCKLE PASSENGER If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system, this message reminds you to buckle the passenger’s seat belt. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61. This message will display and a chime will sound when the ignition is on, the driver’s seat belt is buckled, the passenger’s seat belt is unbuckled with the passenger airbag enabled, and the vehicle is in motion. You should have the passenger buckle their seat belt. This reminder will be repeated if the ignition is on, the vehicle is in motion, the driver is buckled and the passenger is still unbuckled, and the passenger airbag is enabled. If the passenger’s seat belt is already buckled, this message and chime will not come on. 3-50 Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC display. BUCKLE SEATBELT If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system, this message reminds you to buckle the driver’s seat belt. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61. This message will display and a chime will sound when the ignition is on, the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled, and the vehicle is in motion. You should buckle your seat belt. If the driver remains unbuckled when the ignition is on and the vehicle is in motion, the reminder will be repeated. If the driver’s seat belt is already buckled, this message and chime will not come on. This message is an additional reminder to the Safety Belt Reminder Light in the instrument panel cluster. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-30. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC display. If your vehicle has the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC display. CHANGE ENGINE OIL This message is displayed when the engine oil needs to be changed and service is required for your vehicle. See your GM dealer. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 and Engine Oil on page 5-17 for more information. Also see Engine Oil Life System on page 5-20 for information on how to reset the message. This message will clear itself after 10 seconds until the next ignition cycle. CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE On some vehicles, if there is a problem with the generator and battery charging system, this message will appear on the DIC, a chime will sound and the charging system light on the instrument panel cluster will come on. See Charging System Light on page 3-34 and Voltmeter Gage on page 3-34 for more information. Driving with this problem could drain your battery. Turn off all unnecessary accessories. Stop and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Have the electrical system checked by your GM dealer immediately. 3-51 CHECK OIL LEVEL If the oil level in the vehicle is low, this message will appear on the DIC. Check the oil level and correct it as necessary. You may need to let the vehicle cool or warm up and cycle the ignition to be sure this message will clear. This message will clear itself after 10 seconds until the next ignition cycle. See Engine Oil on page 5-17 for additional information. CHECK TIRE PRESSURE If a low tire pressure is detected in any of the vehicle’s tires, this message will appear on the DIC, along with a chime and a low tire pressure warning light. See Low Tire Pressure Warning Light on page 3-37. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. It will appear at each ignition cycle until the tires are inﬂated to the correct inﬂation pressure. See Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-70 for more information on tires and the correct inﬂation pressures. CHECK WASHER FLUID If the washer ﬂuid level is low, this message will appear on the DIC. Adding washer ﬂuid to the windshield washer reservoir will clear the message. See Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-39. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. If you do not clear this message, it will clear itself after 10 seconds until the next ignition cycle. DRIVER DOOR AJAR If the driver’s door is not fully closed and the vehicle is in a drive gear, this message will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. 3-52 ENGINE COOLANT HOT If the cooling system temperature gets hot, this message will appear in the DIC. Turn off the air conditioning. If the message is still on, or if the engine coolant temperature gage continues to rise, pull the vehicle over when it is safe to do so. See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-38 for more information. Stop the vehicle and let the engine idle in PARK (P) for a few minutes to allow the coolant to reach a safe temperature. This message will clear when the coolant temperature drops to a safe operating temperature. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. ENGINE OVERHEATED Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the engine is overheating, severe engine damage may occur. If an overheat warning appears on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Do not increase the engine speed above normal idling speed. See Engine Overheating on page 5-30 for more information. If the engine cooling system reaches unsafe temperatures for operation, this message will appear in the DIC and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so to avoid severe damage. This message will clear when the engine has cooled to a safe operating temperature. FUEL LEVEL LOW If the fuel level is low, this message will appear on the DIC and you will hear a chime. Refuel as soon as possible. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. It will also clear itself after 10 seconds until the next ignition cycle. The low fuel light near the fuel gage will still remain on in either case. See Low Fuel Warning Light on page 3-45, Fuel Gage on page 3-45, and Fuel on page 5-5. KEYFOB X BATTERY LOW If a remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low, this message will appear on the DIC. The battery needs to be replaced in the transmitter. See “Battery Replacement” under Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. 3-53 If you drive your vehicle while the engine OIL LIFE RESET This message will appear on the display for about 10 seconds after resetting the change engine oil message. See “Engine Oil Life System” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-47 and Engine Oil on page 5-17 for more information. OIL PRESSURE LOW Notice: oil pressure is low, severe engine damage may occur. If a low oil pressure warning appears on the Driver Information Center (DIC), stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Do not drive the vehicle until the cause of the low oil pressure is corrected. See Engine Oil on page 5-17 for more information. If low oil pressure levels occur, this message will be displayed on the DIC and a chime will sound. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible and do not operate it until the cause of the low oil pressure has been corrected. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR If the driver’s side rear door is not fully closed and the vehicle is in a drive gear, this message will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. LOW COOLANT LEVEL Notice: Engine damage from running your engine without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode” in the Index for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency. If your vehicle has a low coolant sensor and the engine coolant level is low, this message will appear on the DIC. Adding coolant to the coolant recovery tank will clear the message. See Cooling System on page 5-32. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. 3-54 PASSENGER DOOR AJAR If the passenger’s door is not fully closed and the vehicle is in a drive gear, this message will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. REDUCED ENGINE POWER This message is displayed and a chime will sound when the cooling system temperature gets too hot and the engine further enters the engine coolant protection mode. See Engine Overheating on page 5-30 for further information. You may also see this message when the vehicle determines a problem with the electronic throttle control. See your GM dealer for service. RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR If the passenger’s side rear door is not fully closed and the vehicle is in a drive gear, this message will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. SERVICE 4WD (Four-Wheel-Drive) If a problem occurs with the four-wheel-drive system, this message will appear on the DIC. If this message appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed or appears again when you begin driving, the four-wheel-drive system needs service. See your GM dealer. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. 3-55 SERVICE AIR BAG If there is a problem with the airbag system, this message will be displayed on the DIC. Have your GM dealer inspect the system for problems. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-31 and Airbag System on page 1-52 for more information. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM If a problem occurs with the brake system, this message will appear on the DIC. If this message appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed or appears again when you begin driving, the brake system needs service. See your GM dealer. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM On some vehicles, if there is a problem with the battery charging system, this message will appear on the DIC. Under certain conditions, the charging system light may also turn on in the instrument panel cluster. See Charging System Light on page 3-34. The battery will not be charging at an optimal rate and the vehicle will lose the ability to enter the fuel economy mode. The vehicle is safe to drive, however you should have the electrical system checked by your GM dealer. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. SERVICE STABILITY If you ever see the SERVICE STABILITY message, it means there may be a problem with your StabiliTrak® system. If you see this message, try to reset the system. Stop; turn off the engine; then start the engine again. If the SERVICE STABILITY message still comes on, it means there is a problem. You should see your GM dealer for service. The vehicle is safe to drive, however, you do not have the beneﬁt of StabiliTrak®, so reduce your speed and drive accordingly. For more information on the StabiliTrak® system, see StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9. 3-56 SERVICE TIRE MONITOR This message will be displayed if any of the tire monitor sensors have malfunctioned, if the tire monitor sensors have not been programmed or if the recommended tire pressures are not programmed. See your GM dealer for service. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. STABILITY SYS (System) ACTIVE You may see the STABILITY SYS ACTIVE message on the DIC. It means that an advanced computer-controlled system has come on to help your vehicle continue to go in the direction in which you are steering. For more information on the StabiliTrak® system, see StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9. STABILITY SYS (System) DISABLED The STABILITY SYS DISABLED message will turn on when you press the StabiliTrak® button or when the stability control has been automatically disabled. There are four conditions that can cause this message to appear. (cid:127) One condition is overheating, which could occur if StabiliTrak® activates continuously for an extended period of time. The message will also be displayed if the brake system warning light is on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-35. The message could be displayed if the stability system takes longer than usual to complete its diagnostic checks due to driving conditions. (cid:127) Also, if an engine or vehicle related problem has been detected, and the vehicle needs service, the message will appear. See your GM dealer. The message will turn off as soon as the conditions that caused the message to be displayed are no longer present. For more information on the StabiliTrak® system, see StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9. 3-57 (cid:127) (cid:127) If you drive your vehicle while the TRANS (Transmission) HOT IDLE ENGINE Notice: transmission ﬂuid is overheating and the transmission temperature warning is displayed on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you can damage the transmission. This could lead to costly repairs that would not be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your vehicle with overheated transmission ﬂuid or while the transmission temperature warning is displayed. If the transmission ﬂuid gets hot, this message will appear on the DIC along with a continuous chime. Driving with the transmission ﬂuid temperature high can cause damage to the vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it idle to allow the transmission to cool. This message will clear and the chime will stop when the ﬂuid temperature reaches a safe level. See Transmission Temperature Gage on page 3-38. TIGHTEN FUEL CAP If the vehicle’s fuel cap is not tightened properly this message may appear along with the check engine light on the instrument panel. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-40. Reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See Filling the Tank on page 5-9. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light and message off. TRACTION ACTIVE When the traction control system has detected that any of the vehicle’s wheels are slipping, the traction control system will activate and this message will appear on the DIC. See StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9 for more information. TRACTION SYS (System) LIMITED If the brake traction control system activates constantly or if the brakes have heated up due to high-speed braking, brake traction control will be disabled and the TRACTION SYS LIMITED message will be displayed. The system will return to normal operation after the brakes have cooled. See StabiliTrak® System on page 4-9 for more information. 3-58 If you drive your vehicle while the TRANSMISSION HOT Notice: transmission ﬂuid is overheating and the transmission temperature warning is displayed on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you can damage the transmission. This could lead to costly repairs that would not be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your vehicle with overheated transmission ﬂuid or while the transmission temperature warning is displayed. If the transmission ﬂuid temperature becomes high, this message will appear on the DIC display. When the transmission enters the protection mode, you may notice a change in the transmission shifting patterns. When the transmission ﬂuid temperature returns to normal, the display will turn off and the transmission shifting patterns will return to normal. If the vehicle has the Tow/Haul mode, use this feature if the transmission is operating at higher temperatures and/or the following situations exist, which can cause the transmission to operate at higher temperatures: Low transmission ﬂuid level (cid:127) High transmission ﬂuid level (cid:127) Restricted air ﬂow to the radiator A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down. If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on a frequent basis, see Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 for the transmission your vehicle is equipped with for the proper transmission maintenance intervals. Also see Transmission Temperature Gage on page 3-38 for more information. TURN SIGNAL ON If a turn signal is left on for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km), this message will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Move the turn signal/multifunction lever to the off position. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will clear the message from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will clear the message from the DIC display. Towing a trailer (cid:127) Hot outside air temperatures (cid:127) Hauling a large or heavy load (cid:127) Over-loading 3-59 (cid:127) (cid:127) DIC Vehicle Customization Your vehicle may have customization capabilities that allow you to program some features to one setting based on your preference. All of the customizable options listed may not be available on your vehicle. Only the options available will be displayed on your Driver Information Center (DIC). 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. To change feature preferences, make sure the ignition is on and the vehicle is in PARK (P). Press the customization button to scroll through the available customizable options. After pressing the customization button, VEHICLE SETTINGS will momentarily display before going to a customization option. Lock Doors Press the customization button until LOCK DOORS appears in the display. To select your preference for automatic locking, press the select button while LOCK DOORS is displayed on the DIC. Pressing the select button will scroll through the following choices: LOCK DOORS: IN GEAR (default): The doors will lock when the vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P). 3-60 LOCK DOORS: WITH SPEED: The doors will lock when the vehicle speed is above 8 mph (13 km/h) for three seconds. Choose one of the available options and press the customization button while it is displayed on the DIC to select it and move on to the next feature. Unlock Doors

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2006 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual