2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE fuel

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-32
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-52
Restraint System Check
............................1-67
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-23
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-25
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-27
Mirrors
....................................................2-46
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-53
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-55
Storage Areas
.........................................2-59
Sunroof
..................................................2-84
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-85
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-30
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-46
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-64Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-48
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-49
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-50
Front Axle
...............................................5-51
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-60
Tires
......................................................5-61
Appearance Care
.....................................5-88
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-96
Electrical System
......................................5-96
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-106
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-108
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner ManualM

Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver's window
and open the driver's door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for
the security light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set off the alarm.
While the alarm is set, the power door unlock switch is
not operational.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
headlamps ¯ash, check to see if the horn works. The
horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-97.
If the alarm does not sound or the headlamps do not
¯ash, the vehicle should be serviced by your dealer.
Passlockž
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlockž
theft-deterrent system.
Passlockžis a passive theft-deterrent system. Passlockž
enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with
a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition
lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system is
disabled and the vehicle will not start.
During normal operation, the security light will turn off
approximately ®ve seconds after the key is turned
to RUN.
If the engine stalls and the security light ¯ashes, wait
about 10 minutes until the light stops ¯ashing before
trying to restart the engine. Remember to release
the key from START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the
engine off. However, your Passlock
žsystem is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock
žat this
time. You may also want to check the fuse. See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-97. See your
dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center.
See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
2-26

Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with an engine coolant
heater.
In very cold weather, 0ÉF
(-18ÉC) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can
help. You'll get easier
starting and better
fuel economy during
engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At
temperatures above 32ÉF (0ÉC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is located on the driver's side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering ¯uid reservoir.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a ®re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
won't reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
2-30

REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-45.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn't
connect with the drive wheels. To restart when you're
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
ªracingº (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot is ®rmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don't shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
Notice:Damage to your transmission caused by
shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with
the engine racing isn't covered by your warranty.
DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you're:
·Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
·Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You'll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving.
You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
2-32

If you manually select SECOND (2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature
for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are
trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces. Once the vehicle is moving, shift into
DRIVE (D).
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power,
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission won't shift into ®rst gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:If your wheels won't turn, don't try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or were up against a solid object. You
could damage your transmission. Also, if you
stop when going uphill, don't hold your vehicle there
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat
and damage the transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in
position on a hill.
On cold days, approximately 32ÉF (0ÉC) or colder, your
transmission is designed to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended to improve heater performance.
Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow/haul mode. The
button is located on the end of the column shift lever.
You can use this feature to assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. See ªTow/Haul Modeº under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-58for more information.
2-33

The transfer case buttons are located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.
You can choose among four driving settings:
h(2HI):This setting is used for driving in most street
and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two-wheel drive. This setting also provides the
best fuel economy.AUTO 4WD:This setting is ideal for use when road
conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle
in AUTO 4WD, the front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle's power is sent only to the rear wheels. When
the vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system
will automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy
than 2HI.
G(4HI):Use the 4HI position 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.
5(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may never need this
setting. 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.
2-35

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Interior Lamps..............................................3-17
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-19
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Automatic Climate Control System...................3-20
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-26
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-28
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-29
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-30
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-31
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-33
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-33Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-33
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-34
Charging System Light..................................3-36
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-36
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-37
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-38
Traction Off Light..........................................3-38
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-39
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-41
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-43
Security Light...............................................3-44
Cruise Control Light......................................3-44
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-45
Fuel Gage...................................................3-45
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-45
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-46
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-46
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-57
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a
glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how
fast you're going, about how much fuel you have
and many other things you'll need to know to drive safely
and economically.
Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your vehicle's odometer works together with the
driver information center, if equipped. You can set a
personal trip and business trip odometer. See ªTrip
Informationº under
DIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-46DIC Operation and Displays.
For vehicles without the DIC buttons, your vehicle will
be equipped with personal trip odometer, business
trip odometer and hourmeter in addition to the regular
odometer. To access the different odometers and
the hourmeter, press and release the trip stem button to
cycle through the following options:
·ODOMETER: XXXXX.X MI Ð This shows the
current distance traveled in either miles or
kilometers. The odometer cannot be reset.
·PERSONAL: XXXXX.X MI Ð This shows the
current distance traveled since the last reset for the
personal trip odometer. Press and hold the trip
stem while this is displayed to reset the personal
odometer to 0.
·BUSINESS: XXXXX.X MI Ð This shows the current
distance traveled since the last reset for the
business trip odometer. Press and hold the trip
stem while this is displayed to reset the business
odometer to 0.
·HOURMETER: XX.X HR Ð This shows the total
number of hours the engine has run. The
hourmeter cannot be reset.
To change the language of the display do the following:
1. Use the trip stem to scroll to the odometer mode.
2. Press and hold the trip stem for about four seconds
until the display scrolls through the following
choices:
·ENGLISH
·FRENCH
·SPANISH
3. Release the trip stem when you reach the desired
language.
The display will now be in the language you have
chosen.
The odometer mileage can also be checked without the
vehicle running. Simply press the trip stem on the
instrument panel cluster.
If your vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed, the
new one will be set to the correct mileage total of the
old odometer.
3-32