1995 CHEVROLET TAHOE Axle

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you
quickly change
the position of the accelerator. Ignore the SHIFT light when
you downshift.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Only: If your vehicle has four-wheel drive
and
is equipped with a manual transmission, disregard the SHIFT light
when the transfer case
is in 4-LOW.
Manual Transmission Shift Speeds
If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the engine is not running
smoothly,
you should downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to
downshift two or more gears
to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
A CAUTION:
If you skip more ;than one gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. And you could injure yourself or
others. Don’t shift down more than one gear when you
downshift.
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you downshift, or if you
race the engine when you downshift, you can damage the engine,
clutch or transmission.
Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your rear axle can give you additional traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the
time, but when
one of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does, the
locking feature will allow the wheel with traction to move the vehicle.
2-25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The front axle portion
of
the indicator
diagram will light up
when you shift into
four-wheel drive.
Some delay between shifting and the indicator's lighting is normal.
If the
indicator light does
not light up, or if the front axle light does not go out
after you shift out of four-wheel drive, have your dealer check your system.
When your headlamps or parking lamps are
on, rotate the thumb wheel next
to the headlamp switch up to brighten, or down to dim, your transfer case
indicator light.
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2-WHEEL HIGH (2H)
This setting
is for driving in most street and highway situations. Your
front axle
is not engaged in two-wheel drive.
4-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
This setting engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use 4H
when
you need extra traction, such as on wet or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
NEUTRAL
(N)
Shift to this setting only when your vehicle needs to be towed or when
using
a power take-off.
4-WHEEL LOW (4L)
This setting
also engages your front axle to give you extra power, but
should be used only for off-road driving.
You can shift from 2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
from 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) to 2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) while the vehicle
is
moving. Your front axle will engage faster if you take your foot off of the
accelerator for
a few seconds after you shift. In extremely cold weather it
may be necessary to stop or slow the vehicle to shift out of 2-WHEEL
HIGH (2H).
2-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To shift into or out of 4-WHEEL LOW (4L)or NEUTRAL (N):
0 Slow the vehicle to a roll, about 1-3 mph (2-5 kdh) and shift an
automatic transmission into neutral, or with a manual transmission
press the clutch pedal.
Shift the transfer case shift lever in one continuous motion.
Don’t pause in NEUTRAL
(N) as you shift the transfer case into 4-WHEEL
LOW (4L), or your gears could clash.
Remember that driving in 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or 4-WHEEL LOW (4L)
may reduce fuel economy. Also, driving in four-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make your transfer case
harder
to shift.
Front Axle Locking Feature
I ne front axle locks and unlocks automatically when you shift the transfer
case. Some delay for the axle to lock or unlock is normal. If the outside
temperature is very hot, or the vehicle has been used under hard driving
conditions, there may be a slight delay for the axle to unlock.
Windows
To open your manual
windows, turn the
hand crank on each
door to raise or lower
your side door
windows.
2-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Off-Road Driving with Your Four-wheel Drive
Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive.
Also, see “Anti-Lock Brakes”
in the Index.
If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t drive off-road
unless you’re on a level, solid surface.
Off-road driving can be great
fun. But it does have some definite hazards.
The greatest
of these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American road system
behind. Traffic lanes aren’t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no
road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short,
you’ve gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new
skills. And that’s why it’s very
important that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service work done. Check to make sure all
underbody shields (if
so equipped) are properly attached. Be sure you read
all
the information about your four-wheel drive vehicle in this manual. Is
there enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the fluid levels up
where they should be? What are
the local laws that apply to off-roading
where you’ll be driving? If you don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you be
on someone’s private land? If
so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about how to load your
vehicle.
0 The heaviest things should be on the load floor and forward of your
0 Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on the off-road terrain
rear axle. Put
heavier items as far forward as you can.
doesn’t toss things around.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving ln Water
Light rain causes no special off-road driving problems. But heavy rain can
mean flash flooding, and flood waters demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water
is before you drive through it. If it’s deep
enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles,
or exhaust pipe, don’t try it - you
probably won’t get through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle and
other vehicle parts.
If the water isn’t
too deep, then drive through it slowly. At fast speeds, water
splashes
on your ignition system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also
occur
if you get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your tailpipe is
under water, you’ll never be able
to start your engine. When you go through
water, remember that when your brakes get wet, it may take you longer to
stop.
If
you have a diesel engine, see “Driving Through Water (Diesel Engines)”
in the Index for more information on driving through water.
4-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loading Your Vehicle
I
PSI/KPA (COLD)
~ SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The CertificatiodTire label is found on the rear edge of the driver's door.
The label shows the size
of your original tires and the inflation pressures
needed to obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The Certificatiodl'ire label
also tells you the maximum weights for the
front and rear axles, called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find
out
the actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure
to spread out your load equally on both sides
of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR
for your vehicle, or the GAWR for either the front
or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
.Using heavier suspension components to get added durability might not
change your weight ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your vehicle
the right way.
If your vehicle is equipped for front-end equipment (a snow plow, for
example), the front suspension may have been adjusted (raised) to level the
vehicle when the equipment was installed. If the front suspension was
adjusted, you must re-adjust the front suspension after the equipment is
removed to avoid possible front suspension damage. Adjust the front
suspension
to original design specifications for your particular model.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
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There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions,
having to do
with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will weigh 3,000 pounds
(1 362 kg) or less for a utility vehicle or, for a Suburban, 4,000 pounds
(1 800 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer
will weigh more than
3,000 pounds (1 362 kg) for a utility vehicle or
4,000 pounds (1 800 kg) for a Suburban. You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during
the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
If you have
an automatic transmission, you should use DRIVE (3) (or, as
you need to, a lower gear) when towing
a trailer. Operating your vehicle
in DRIVE (3) when towing a trailer will minimize heat build-up and
extend the life of your transmission.
If you have a manual transmission
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use
FIFTH (5) gear. Just
drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or. as vou need to. a lower pearl

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are especially
important
in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system, an\
d brake
adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see
that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Lighting Systems Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.