2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE engine overheat

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant message,
can indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant
Level Warning MessageunderDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-57.
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
·Climb a long hill on a hot day.
·Stop after high-speed driving.
·Idle for long periods in traffic.
·Tow a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer on page 4-58.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try
this for a minute or so:
1. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
2. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving
± DRIVE (D).If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you're parked. If you still have the warning,
turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down. Also, see ªOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Modeº listed previously in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-29

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you wouldn't get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-33

Driving Downhill..............................................4-26
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-29
Driving in Water..............................................4-30
Driving On Grades..........................................4-66
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-23
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-42
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-35
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-35
Driving Uphill..................................................4-24
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-64
Driving..........................................................4-32
At Night.....................................................4-32
City...........................................................4-36
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-37
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-39
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-33
Winter........................................................4-41
Dual Climate Control System............................3-26
DVD Player....................................................3-90
DVD ............................................................3-103
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-103
Distortion..................................................3-102
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-90E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-86
Electrical System............................................5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-97
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-97
Electrochromic Mirror Operation................2-46, 2-49
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-43
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-58
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-10
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-18
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-5
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-10
ENGINE OVERHEATED..................................3-58
Engine..........................................................5-20
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-42
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-41
Compartment Overview................................5-12
Coolant Heater............................................2-30
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-39
Coolant......................................................5-24
Cooling System Inspection............................6-16
Exhaust.....................................................2-44
Fan Noise..................................................5-36
Oil .............................................................5-15
Overheating................................................5-27
5

Manual Passenger Seat.................................... 1-2
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Memory Seat.................................................2-85
Message.......................................................3-57
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-57
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) ± Customer Assistance....................... 7-5
Midgate Drain Grate Removal and Cleaning.......2-75
Midgate Operation...........................................2-12
Midgate.........................................................2-12
Mirrors..........................................................2-48
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
and Temperature Display...........................2-48
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
ž,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-46
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-46
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb
View Assist.............................................2-53
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors........................2-51
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-52
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-52
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-51
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-27
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts...........5-108
O
Odometer......................................................3-32
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-16
OIL LIFE RESET............................................3-57
OIL PRESSURE LOW.....................................3-57
Oil ................................................................5-15
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Gage............................................3-43
Older Children, Restraints................................1-32
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-4
OnStar
žPersonal Calling.................................2-54
OnStaržServices............................................2-54
OnStaržSteering Wheel Controls......................2-55
OnStaržSystem.............................................2-53
OnStaržVirtual Advisor....................................2-54
Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off
Paved Roads..............................................4-19
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-28
Outside.........................................................2-53
Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb View
Assist.....................................................2-53
Camper-Type Mirrors....................................2-51
Convex Mirror.............................................2-52
Heated Mirrors............................................2-52
Power Mirrors.............................................2-51
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . 5-27
Overseas ± Customer Assistance........................ 7-5
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner's Information........................................7-12
10