2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE brake light

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
Liftgate
Automatic Transmission Operation
Four-Wheel Drive
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield WipersCruise Control
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
Sunroof (If Equipped)
HomeLink® Transmitter (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Seats and Seat Controls
Safety BeltsAir Bag Systems
Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

2-
2-1
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 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-10 Keyless Entry System
2
-13 Midgate
2
-23 Tailgate
2
-24 Theft
2
-25 Content Theft-Deterrent
2
-26 Passlock

2-27 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-27 Ignition Positions
2
-29 Starting Your Engine
2
-30 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-32 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-35 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-40 Parking Brake
2
-41 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-43 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-44 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-44 Engine Exhaust
2
-45 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-46 Locking Rear Axle
2
-46 Horn
2
-47 Tilt Wheel
2
-47 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-53 Exterior Lamps
2
-58 Interior Lamps
2
-59 Mirrors
2
-64 Storage Compartments
2
-66 Tonneau Cover (If Equipped)
2
-73 Cargo Cover Panels (If Equipped)
2
-91 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-98 The Instrument Panel - Your
Information System
2
-100 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-101 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-116 Message Center

2-37
4HI: Use 4HI when you need extra traction, such as
on snowy or icy roads or in most off
-road situations.
This setting also engages your front axle to help drive
your vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
4LO: This setting also engages your front axle and
delivers extra torque. You may never need 4LO. It sends
maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose
4LO if you are driving off
-road in deep sand, deep mud,
deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be
seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking
brake before placing the transfer case in
NEUTRAL. See ªParking Brakeº in the Index.
NEUTRAL: Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle.
See ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº or ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index for more information.
Indicator lights in the switches show which setting your
transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on
briefly when you turn on the ignition and one will stay
on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your
vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will
flash while the transfer case is being shifted. It will
remain illuminated when the shift is complete. If for
some reason the transfer case cannot make a requested
shift, it will return to the last chosen setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you
should take your vehicle to your dealer for service.
See ªService 4WDº in the Index for further information.

2-39
Shifting to NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, first make sure
the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
3. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to 2HI.
6. Simultaneously press and hold the 2HI and 4LO
buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL light
will come on when the transfer case shift to
NEUTRAL is complete.
7. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one
second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D)
for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to OFF.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
10. Release the parking brake prior to towing.Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (2HI, 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 4LO).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
5. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.

2-40
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
flash. A chime will activate when the parking brake is
applied and the vehicle is moved at least 3 mph (5 km/h)
for at least three seconds.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, marked BRAKE
RELEASE, to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

2-51
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't 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.
United States Canada
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel will
illuminate when the cruise control is engaged.
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 don't need to reset it.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) briefly.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle will keep
going faster until you release the switch or apply the
brake. So unless you want to go faster, don't hold
the switch at R/A.

2-52
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

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'll now cruise at the higher speed.

Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. 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 to R/A briefly.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control

Press and hold the SET 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, press the
SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you'll
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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 don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Move the cruise control switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

2-54
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the radio speaker grill.
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.To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is
off. Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. See ªDaytime Running Lamps (DRL)º later
in this section for more information.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on, the driver's
door is opened and your ignition is in OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY. To turn the chime off, turn the knob all
the way to the left or turn the instrument panel dimmer
down to the fully dimmed position. In the automatic
mode, the headlamps turn off once the ignition key is
in OFF.