Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-24
Child Restraints
.......................................1-47
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-73
Restraint System Check
............................1-88
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-45
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-55
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-57
Storage Areas
.........................................2-61
Sunroof
..................................................2-65
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-66
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-36
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-53
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-72Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-59
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-55
Rear Axle
...............................................5-56
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-57
Front Axle
...............................................5-58
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-59
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-66
Tires
......................................................5-67
Appearance Care
.....................................5-99
Vehicle Identi®cation
...............................5-107
Electrical System
....................................5-108
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-118
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-121
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 Tahoe/SuburbanM
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger
air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing a forward-facing child restraint.
See
Power Seats on page 1-4orManual Seats
on page 1-3.
If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system
and you are using a rear-facing child restraint in this
seat, make sure the frontal air bag is off. See
Passenger Sensing System on page 1-83.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off
the right front passenger's frontal air bag, the off
indicator on the inside rearview mirror will light and
stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-71
Passenger Sensing System
If your rearview mirror has one of the indicators pictured
in the following illustrations, your vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. The indicator will be visible when you
turn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ON
and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible on
the rearview mirror during the system check. When the
system check is complete, either the word ON or the word
OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will be
visible. See
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator on
page 3-39. If your rearview mirror doesn't have either of
the indicators pictured, then your vehicle doesn't have the
passenger sensing system.The passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger's frontal air bag under certain
conditions. The driver's air bag and the side air bags
are not part of the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger's seat and safety belt.
The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine if the
passenger's frontal air bag should be enabled (may
in¯ate) or not. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator ± United States
Passenger Air
Bag Status
Indicator ± Canada
1-83
Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Delayed Locking...........................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-13
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Liftgate........................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-16
Manual Windows..........................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-16
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-18
Passlock
ž....................................................2-20Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-21
Ignition Positions..........................................2-22
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-23
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-24
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-24
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-26
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-29
All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrak
ž......................2-34
Parking Brake..............................................2-38
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-39
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-42
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-42
Engine Exhaust............................................2-43
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-44
Mirrors...........................................................2-45
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
ž, Compass and Temperature
Display....................................................2-45
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display...............2-49
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................2-51
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors.........................2-52
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-52
Outside Power Camper-Type Mirror.................2-53
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors.....................2-53
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-53
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors....................2-54
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-54
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-54
OnStar
žSystem.............................................2-55
HomeLinkžTransmitter...................................2-57
Programming the HomeLinkžTransmitter.........2-58Storage Areas................................................2-61
Glove Box...................................................2-61
Cupholder(s)................................................2-61
Front Storage Area.......................................2-61
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-62
Luggage Carrier...........................................2-62
Rear Storage Area........................................2-63
Convenience Net..........................................2-64
Cargo Cover................................................2-64
Sunroof.........................................................2-65
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-66
Memory Seat...............................................2-66
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-2
{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear Ð not
in NEUTRAL. Always set your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-39.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-65.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Pull the tab under the mirror toward you to reduce glare
from headlamps behind you after dark. Push the tab
away from you for normal daytime operation.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
ž, Compass and
Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have this feature. When on, an
electrochromic mirror automatically dims to the proper
level to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror also includes a duel display in the upper
right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and
the outside temperature will both appear in the display
at the same time.
P(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature
Display
If your vehicle is equipped with an electrochromic mirror,
it will, when on, automatically dim to the proper level to
minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror also includes a display in the upper right
corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and the
outside temperature will both appear in the display at the
same time. The dual display can be turned on or off by
brie¯y pressing either the TEMP or the COMP button.
Temperature Display
The temperature can be displayed by pressing the TEMP
button. Pressing the TEMP button once brie¯y, will toggle
the temperature reading on and off. To alternate the
temperature reading between Fahrenheit and Celsius,
press and hold the TEMP button for approximately four
seconds until the display blinks ÉF and ÉC. Press and
release the TEMP button to toggle between the
Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the display will stop blinking
and display the last selection made.
Press and release the TEMP button to toggle the
temperature display between Fahrenheit or Celsius.If an abnormal reading is displayed, for an extended
period of time, please consult your dealer. Under certain
circumstances, a delay in updating the temperature is
normal.
Electrochromic Mirror Operation
The time period you need to press and hold the TEMP
button to turn the electrochromic feature on or off is
approximately eight seconds. The indicator light to the
left of the TEMP button will still turn on or off to
show you when the electrochromic feature is activated.
Once the mirror is turned off, it will remain off until it
is turned back on, or until the vehicle is restarted.
Compass Operation
Press the COMP button once brie¯y to turn the compass
on or off.
When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the
compass will show two character boxes for
approximately two seconds. After two seconds, the
mirror will display the compass heading.
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
2-49
Outside Power Camper-Type Mirror
If your vehicle is equipped with outside power
camper-type mirrors, they can be adjusted so you can
have a clear view of objects behind you.
To extend the mirrors move the selector switch, located
above the mirror control, to the middle position. The
mirror control will illuminate. Press the left side of the
mirror control to slide the mirror heads away from the
body of the vehicle. Press the right side of the mirror
control to slide the mirror heads toward the body of the
vehicle.
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
If your vehicle is equipped with outside power foldaway
mirrors the mirrors can be folded in toward the body
of the vehicle.
To fold in the mirrors, move the upper selector switch,
located above the mirror control, to the middle position.
Press the right side of the mirror control to fold the mirrors
toward the body of the vehicle. The mirror glass on one or
both sides of the vehicle may automatically adjust before
the mirror folds inward. When the mirror glass or mirror
starts moving, you can release the mirror control.To return the mirrors and the mirror glass to their
normal position press the left side of the mirror control.
If the mirrors are manually folded, unfold and fold
them atleast twice using the mirror controls. Do not
unfold them manually. They may not stay in place
otherwise.
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, the
driver's side outside mirror will adjust for the glare of
headlamps behind you. This feature is controlled by the
on and off settings found on the electrochromic
mirror. See
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display on page 2-49.
2-53