2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE ignition

4-41
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. See ªOff
-Road
Drivingº in the Index for information about
driving off
-road.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to
let your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the hill better.

Stay in your own lane when driving on two
-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.

As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.

You may see highway signs on mountains that warn
of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing
or no
-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

4-47 Dinghy Towing
(Two and Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles)
Tw o-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tw o
-wheel-drive, vehicles, should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles, they
should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a two
-wheel
drive vehicle is to be towed with all four wheels on the
ground, the propeller shaft axle yoke orientation should
be marked and the propeller shaft removed following the
applicable service manual removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.
When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow vehicle
and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to OFF.
To prevent the battery from draining, remove the IGN 0
fuse from the instrument panel fuse block. See ªFusesº
in the Index for more information about removing the
IGN 0 fuse.

4-48
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to correctly tow your
vehicle on all four wheels:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle's transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P). You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is firmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL. See ªTransfer Caseºin the
Index for more information.
4. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
See ªFour
-Wheel-Driveº in the Index for the
proper procedure to select the neutral position for
your vehicle.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
6. When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow
vehicle and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to
OFF. To prevent the battery from draining, remove
the IGN 0 fuse from the instrument panel fuse block.
See ªFusesº in the Index for more information about
removing the IGN 0 fuse.

4-49 Dolly Towing
(Two-Wheel Drive Vehicle Only)
Tw o-Wheel Drive OnlyTw o
-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tw o
-wheel-drive, vehicles, should not be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles, they
should be placed on a platform trailer with all four
wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a two
-wheel
drive vehicle is to be towed with the rear wheels on the
ground, the propeller shaft axle yoke orientation should
be marked and the propeller shaft removed following the
applicable service manual removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.
When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow vehicle
and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to LOCK.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight
-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing.

5-4
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
If you have a four
-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is not in NEUTRAL (N).
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or in the accessory power outlets. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that aren't needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (
-) terminal locations of the other vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting
terminal and a remote negative (
-) jump starting
terminal. You should always use these remote
terminals instead of the terminals on the battery.
The remote positive (+) terminal is located under
a red plastic cover near the engine accessory drive
bracket. To access the remote positive (+) terminal,
open the red plastic cover.
The remote negative (
-) terminal is located on the
engine accessory drive bracket and is marked ªGND.º
See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index
for more information on location.

5-22
2. Remove the wheel blocks by turning the wing
nut counterclockwise.
3. Release the bottle jack from its holder by turning the
knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the jack
head from the bracket.The tools for changing a flat tire are located in the
passenger's side Top
-Box Storage unit.
To remove the tools, do the following:
1. Open the top door on the passenger's side Top
-Box
Storage unit. Use the ignition/door key to unlock it if
it is locked. See ªTop Box Storageº in the Index for
more information on the Top
-Box Storage unit.
Top Box Storage Unit (Passenger Side)

5-24
Follow these instructions to lower the spare tire:
1. Your vehicle is equipped with a hoist lock (J).
To unlock it, open the spare tire lock cover on the
bumper and use the ignition key to remove the lock.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench (H) and the two jack
handle extensions (I) as shown.
3. Insert the hoist end
(open end) (F) of the
extension through
the hole (G) in the
rear bumper.
Be sure the hoist end of the extension connects into the
hoist shaft (E). The ribbed square end of the extension is
used to lower the spare tire.
4. Turn the wheel wrench (H) counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire to the ground. Continue to turn
the wheel wrench until the spare tire can be pulled
out from under the vehicle.

6-17
How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL Message
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message,
do the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three
times within five seconds.
3. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message flashes
for five seconds, the system is reset.
If the system does not reset, try the procedure once again.
If it still does not reset, see your dealer for service.What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don't let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil.
See the manufacturer's warnings about the use and
disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free
-flowing
oil from the filter before disposal. Don't ever dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil.
If you have a problem properly disposing of your used
oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.