2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE length

2-13
Midgate
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the cargo area
covered and the tailgate and Midgate open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come
into your vehicle. You can't see or smell CO.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the cargo area covered
and the tailgate and Midgate open or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and
the Midgate:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on OUTSIDE AIR. That will force outside air
into your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº in
the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Midgate Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with a Midgate and a removable
rear glass panel. The Midgate allows you to extend the
length of your vehicle's cargo area.
The following are the main components of the
Midgate system:
A. Latch Levers
B. Grab Handles
C. Glass
-Catch
Release ButtonD. Glass Lock Knobs
E. Window Retaining Tabs
F. Midgate Release Handle
G. Window Alignment Arrows

3-8
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 outside air temperature,
engine coolant temperature or the time since the engine
was last started. As the coolant warms up, the fan speed
will gradually increase and air will flow from the heater
outlets, with some airflow to the windshield to prevent
fogging under most normal conditions.
Be careful not to put anything over the solar sensor
located near the center of the instrument panel.
This sensor is used by the automatic system to
regulate temperature.Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
air inside 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.
The A/C button, below the mode knob, allows the air
coming into your vehicle to be cooled. This setting is
useful for normal cooling on hot days.
Using A/C with the recirculation setting active allows
the air inside your vehicle to be recirculated. This
setting helps to maximize your air conditioner's
performance and your vehicle's fuel economy. This
setting also cools air the fastest and can be used to keep
unwanted odors and/or dust from entering the vehicle.
When using the air conditioner, turn off the recirculation
setting and use the outside air setting after the vehicle
reaches a comfortable interior temperature. When the
right knob on the control panel is between floor and
defrost, the recirculation feature will not function to
reduce window fogging.

4-3
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It's the number one contributor to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:

Judgment

Muscular Coordination

Vision

Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle
-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, about 16,000 annual motor
vehicle
-related deaths have been associated with the use
of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.Many adults
-- by some estimates, nearly half the
adult population
-- choose never to drink alcohol,
so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21,
it's against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to solve the leading highway safety
problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then
drive. But what if people do? How much is ªtoo muchº
if the driver plans to drive? It's a lot less than many
might think. Although it depends on each person
and situation, here is some general information on
the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:

The amount of alcohol consumed

The drinker's body weight

The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking

The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.

4-28 Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide
whether to try to drive across the incline. Here are some
things to consider:

A hill that can be driven straight up or down may
be too steep to drive across. When you go straight
up or down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels.
This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.

Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into
a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because
the trail goes across the incline doesn't mean you
have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have
rolled over.
CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that's too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any
doubt about the steepness of the incline, don't
drive across it. Find another route instead.

6-43
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear and cracking. See ªWiper Blade
Checkº in the Index for more information.Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
see ªNormal Maintenance Replacement Partsº in the
Index. Here's how to remove the Shephard's Hook type.
To replace the windshield wiper blade assembly,
do the following:
1. Lift the wiper arm and turn the blade until it is
facing away from the windshield.
2. Push the release lever on the backside of the
wiper blade and slide the wiper assembly toward
the driver's side of the vehicle.
3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.

6-73
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement part numbers listed in this section are based on the latest information available at the time of printing,
and are subject to change. If a part listed in this manual is not the same as the part used in your vehicle when it was
built, or if you have any questions, please contact your GM dealer.
These specifications are for information only. If you have any questions, see the service manual.
VIN Code T G
Oil Filter* PF59 PF59
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter* A1518C A1518C
Passenger Compartment Air Filter Kit** 52485513 52485513
PCV Valve* CV948C None
Spark PlugsPTZ14R15***/
PZTR5A15/41
-974*PTJ16R15***/
PZTR5A15/41-974*
Fuel Filter* GF626 GF626
Wiper Blades** 15706394 15706394
Wiper Blade Type ITTA ITTA
Wiper Blade Length 22 inches (56.0 cm) 22 inches (56.0 cm)
*ACDelco

part number
**GM part number
***Denso part number
 Spark Plug Gap is 0.060 inches
 NGK part number