2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE automatic transmission

82,500 Miles (137 500 km)
qCheck rear/front axle ¯uid level and add ¯uid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-62for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qCheck rear/front axle ¯uid level and add ¯uid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.
qReplace fuel ®lter.
An Emission Control Service. (See
footnote ².)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter on vehicles without
a restriction indicator. If equipped with a change
indicator, inspect the indicator. If necessary, replace
the ®lter. If vehicle is driven in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the change indicator (if equipped) at every
engine oil change. See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-20for more information.An Emission
Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-62for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qCheck rear/front axle ¯uid level and add ¯uid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-62for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
qIf you haven't used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven't
changed your automatic transmission ¯uid, change
both the ¯uid and ®lter.
6-9

Weatherstrip Lubrication
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-17.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission ¯uid level; add if needed. SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid on page 5-22. A ¯uid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
speci®ed in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hood latch assembly, secondary latch,
pivots, spring anchor, release pawl, midgate hinges, side
storage box door hinges, tailgate hinge, tailgate
linkage, outer tailgate handle pivot points, latch bolt, fuel
door hinge, locks and folding seat hardware. Part D
tells you what to use. More frequent lubrication may be
required when exposed to a corrosive environment.
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
6-12

2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-39if
necessary.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
If the starter works in any other position, your
vehicle needs service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See
Parking Brake
on page 2-39if necessary.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the RUN
position, but don't start the engine. Without applying
the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of PARK (P), your vehicle needs service.
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
·The key should turn to LOCK only when the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
·The key should come out only in LOCK.
6-13

Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism
Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
·To check the parking brake's holding ability: With
the engine running and transmission in NEUTRAL
(N), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
·To check the PARK (P) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ¯ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-14

Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identi®ed below by name, part
number or speci®cation may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed for
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol
of the proper viscosity. To determine
the preferred viscosity for your
vehicle's engine, see
Engine Oil on
page 5-15.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only
DEX-COOL
žCoolant. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-24.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake ¯uid.
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
žWasher Solvent or
equivalent.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part
No. U.S. 1052884, in Canada
993294, or equivalent).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
ž-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474, or equivalent).
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant (GM Part No.
U.S. 12377985, in Canada
88901242, or equivalent) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Front AxleSAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant (GM
Part No. U.S. 1052271, in Canada
10950849 or equivalent).
Rear AxleSAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle
Lubricant (GM Part No. U.S.
12378261, in Canada 10953455) or
equivalent meeting GM Speci®cation
9986115.
6-17

Automatic Transmission Check..........................6-12
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-13
Automatic Transmission...................................5-22
Fluid..........................................................5-22
Operation...................................................2-31
Auxiliary Battery..............................................4-69
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch.................3-16
B
Backing Up....................................................4-65
BATTERY NOT CHARGING.............................3-58
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-18
Battery..........................................................5-42
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-38
Before You Drive............................................3-90
Before You Go Off-Roading..............................4-19
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-12
Brake Adjustment............................................5-42
Brake Fluid....................................................5-39
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-29
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-42
Brake Wear...................................................5-41
Brake............................................................2-39
Parking......................................................2-39
System Inspection.......................................6-16
System Warning Light..................................3-37Brake (cont.)
Brakes..........................................................5-39
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-27
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-58
Daytime Running Lamps...............................5-58
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-56
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps....................................................5-55
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps.................................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-59
Taillamps....................................................5-58
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-106
Carbon Monoxide...........4-41, 4-58, 2-12, 2-21, 2-44
Care of.........................................................5-91
Safety Belts................................................5-91
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-103
2

Engine (cont.)
Starting......................................................2-28
Entertainment System....................................3-103
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-103
DVD Distortion..........................................3-102
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Environmental Concerns..................................4-21
Erasing HomeLink
žButtons..............................2-58
Exit Lighting...................................................3-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-13
F
Filter.............................................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finding a PTY Station (RDS and XMŸ).....3-69, 3-80
Finding a Station....................................3-67, 3-78
Finish Care....................................................5-92
Finish Damage...............................................5-93
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-103
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-70
Flat Tire........................................................5-69
Fluid.............................................................5-22
Automatic Transmission................................5-22
Power Steering...........................................5-36
Windshield Washer......................................5-38Fluid (cont.)
FM Stereo....................................................3-102
Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Following Distance..........................................4-65
Footnotes........................................................ 6-5
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-34, 5-50
Front Armrest Storage Area..............................2-59
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-34
Front Axle......................................................5-51
Frontal Air Bags.............................................1-57
Fuel Information Button....................................3-49
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-60
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-45
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-45
System Inspection.......................................6-15
Fuses...........................................................5-97
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-97
6

P
Park (P)........................................................2-40
Shifting Into................................................2-40
Shifting Out of............................................2-42
Parking Brake and Automatic Transmission
Park (P) Mechanism Check...........................6-14
Parking on Hills..............................................4-66
Parking.........................................................2-39
Brake........................................................2-39
Over Things That Burn.................................2-43
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services............ 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services................6-10
Part C - Periodic MaintenanceInspections..........6-15
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-17
Part E - Maintenance Record...........................6-19
Passenger Air Bag Indicator.....................2-48, 2-51
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator...................3-34
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR..............................3-62
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-62
Passing.................................................4-16, 4-65
Passlock
ž......................................................2-26
Personalization Button.....................................3-50
Personalization, Climate Controls......................3-29
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-8
Playing a Compact Disc..........................3-74, 3-85
Playing a Speci®c Loaded Compact Disc............3-86
Playing the Radio...................................3-66, 3-77
Power Steering...............................................4-14
Power...........................................................3-19Accessory Outlets........................................3-19
Door Locks.................................................. 2-8
Electrical System.........................................5-97
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-36
Windows....................................................2-24
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................. 2-8
Programming the HomeLink
žTransmitter...........2-56
Puddle Lamps................................................3-15
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
R
Radio Data System (RDS).......................3-65, 3-76
Radio Messages.............................................3-71
Radios..........................................................3-64
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-103
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-103
Radio with CD............................................3-65
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-76
Rear Seat Audio..........................................3-99
Setting the Time..........................................3-64
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-101
Understanding Reception............................3-102
RDS Messages......................................3-70, 3-82
11