1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE ignition

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If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
-- or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you start your vehicle, the damage could make the air
bags inflate, even if there's no crash. You would have to
replace the air bags as well as the sensors and related
parts. If your vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it's exposed
to water that soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless
repair costs by turning off the vehicle immediately and
disconnecting the battery cables. Don't let anyone start
the vehicle under any circumstances. See your dealer
for service.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the GM service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-3 Door Locks
2
-6 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-8 Your Doors and How They Work
2
-10 Theft
2
-11 Passlock

2-12 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-12 Ignition Positions
2
-13 Starting Your Gasoline Engine
2
-15 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-16 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-19 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-26 Shifting Into Park (P)
2
-28 Shifting Out of Park (P)
2
-29 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-29 Engine Exhaust
2
-30 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-31 Locking Rear Axle (If Equipped)
2
-31 Windows
2
-33 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-34 Multifunction Lever
2
-40 Exterior Lamps
2
-41 Interior Lamps
2
-43 Mirrors
2
-53 Storage Compartments
2
-62 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
2
-64 Sun Visors
2
-64 Universal Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-68 Instrument Panel
2
-70 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-72 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.

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Your vehicle has one
double
-sided key for the
ignition and all door locks.
If you ever lose your key, your dealer will be able to
assist you with obtaining a new one.Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers -- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won't open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key.

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2-7 Operation
To unlock the driver's door, press the UNLOCK button.
The interior lamps will come on for 40 seconds or until
the ignition is turned on. If you press this button again
within five seconds, all the remaining doors will unlock.
Press the LOCK button to lock all the doors. The interior
lamps will come on for two seconds as soon as all the
doors are closed. If you press the LOCK button twice the
horn will chirp to confirm that the doors are locked.
If you do not want the horn to chirp as a confirmation
that the doors have locked or unlocked, please consult
your dealer.
The rear cargo doors or tailgate glass will unlock
automatically when the REAR button on the transmitter
is pressed twice within three seconds. If your vehicle is
equipped with a rear liftglass, pressing the REAR button
twice within three seconds will release the liftglass, but
only if the transmission selector is in PARK (P). The
interior lamps will come on for 40 seconds or until the
ignition is turned on.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can bepurchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about two years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.
NOTICE:
When replacing the battery, use care not to touch
any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage
the transmitter.
Use one three volt, type CR2032, or equivalent battery.

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To open the driver's side panel door, first open the
passenger's side door. Then, pull the handle on the left
door edge out and pull the door open.
The rear doors have a check assembly to keep them
from fully opening during normal use.
To fully open either rear door, you must release the
check strap. To release the check strap just:
1. Open the door partway until the white mark on the
check strap is fully outside the door edge. If the end
of the strap catches the pin on the door, the door is
open too far.
2. Then, hold the strap at
the white mark, pull the
strap toward you and
open the door all
the way.
To r e
-engage the door check strap, just close the door
and the strap will catch the pin.To close the doors, close the driver's side door first.
After securely closing the door, close the passenger's
side door. Make sure both doors are latched securely.
To lock the rear doors from outside the vehicle, put your
key in the lock and turn it clockwise. If you have power
door locks, you can lock the side doors as well as the
rear doors from inside the vehicle. For more
information, see ªPower Door Locksº in this section.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft
-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a tone reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transmission. Also remember to lock
the doors.

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2-11 Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it's best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.
Passlock
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock
theft
-deterrent system.
Passlock is a passive theft
-deterrent system. Passlock
enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a
valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition lock
cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.During normal operation, the SECURITY light will go
off approximately five seconds after the key is turned to
the RUN ignition position.
If the engine stalls and the SECURITY light flashes,
wait until the light stops flashing before trying to restart
the engine. Remember to release the key from START
as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the SECURITY light comes
on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the
engine off. However, your Passlock system is not
working properly and must be serviced by your dealer.
Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock at this time.
You may also want to check the fuse (see ªFuses and
Circuit Breakersº in the Index). See your dealer
for service.
In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center.

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New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:

Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (805 km).

Don't drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.

Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.

Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.
Ignition Positions
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be injured or even killed. They could
operate power windows or other controls or even
make the vehicle move. Don't leave the keys in
the vehicle with children.
Use your key to start your vehicle. The key lets you turn
the ignition switch to five different positions.