2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE transmission

Front Axle Locking Feature
The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when
you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to
lock or unlock is normal.
Automatic Transfer Case
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-38
.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.
2-30

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.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-38
.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-59orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-59for more information.
Indicator lights in the switches show which setting you
are in. The indicator lights will come on brie¯y when you
turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights
do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light will ¯ash while
shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer
case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See²Service
4WD message²under
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-53.
2-31

Shifting into 4HI or AUTO 4WD
Press and release the 4 hi or AUTO 4WD switch.
This can be done at any speed (except when shifting
from 4LO), and the indicator light will ¯ash while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed.
Shifting into 2HI
Press and release the 2 hi switch. This can be done at
any speed (except when shifting from 4LO).
Shifting into 4LO
To shift to the 4 lo position, the ignition must be in RUN
and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
The preferred method for shifting into 4LO is to have
your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press
and release the 4 lo switch. You must wait for the
4LO indicator light to stop ¯ashing and remain
illuminated before shifting your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the 4LO indicator light has stopped ¯ashing
could damage the transfer case. To help avoid
damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO
indicator light to stop ¯ashing before shifting your
transmission into gear.
It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signi®cant
engagment noise and bump when shifting between
4LO and 4HI ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine
running.
If the 4 lo switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds
the transfer case will return to the setting last chosen.
2-32

Shifting Out of 4LO
To shift from 4LO to 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI your vehicle
must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in
RUN. The preferred method for shifting out of 4LO is to
have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h).
Press and release the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI switch.
You must wait for the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI indicator
light to stop ¯ashing and remain illuminated before
shifting your transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the 4LO indicator light has stopped ¯ashing
could damage the transfer case. To help avoid
damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO
indicator light to stop ¯ashing before shifting your
transmission into gear.
It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signi®cant
engagment noise and bump when shifting between
4LO and 4HI ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine
running.
If the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI switch is pressed when
your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the 4HI,
AUTO 4WD or 2HI indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
Shifting into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will
not roll.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
4. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle.
5. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
6. Shift the transfer case to 2HI.
7. Simultaneously press and hold the 2HI and 4LO
buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL light
will come on when the transfer case shift to
NEUTRAL is complete.
8. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one
second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D)
for one second.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
10. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
11. Release the parking brake prior to towing.
2-33

Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (2HI, 4HI, AUTO 4WD OR 4 LO).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to
enter the shift protection mode. This will protect the
transfer case from possible damage and will only allow
the transfer case to respond to one shift per 10
seconds. The transfer case may stay in this mode for
up to three minutes.
All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrakž
With this feature, engine power is sent to all four wheels
all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle.
It is fully automatic, and adjust itself as needed for road
conditions.
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.
2-34

You can choose among three driving settings:
d(Stabilitrakž):This button is used with the
Stabilitrakžsystem and is also used to shift the transfer
case into Neutral. For more information on using
Stabilitrak
žseeStabilitrakžSystem on page 4-12.
f(All-Wheel Drive):This setting delivers power to
all four wheels as needed depending on road and driving
conditions.
g(4LO):This setting 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.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-38
.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-59orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-59for more information.
Indicator lights in the switches show which setting you are
in. The indicator lights will come on brie¯y when you turn
on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not
come on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for
service. An indicator light will ¯ash while shifting the
transfer case. It will remain illuminated when the shift is
complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot
make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen
setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See
SERVICE 4WD under
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-53.
2-35

Shifting into 4LO
To shift to the 4LO position, the ignition must be in RUN
and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
The preferred method for shifting into 4LO is to have
your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press
and release the 4LO switch. You must wait for the
4LO indicator light to stop ¯ashing and remain
illuminated before shifting your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the 4LO indicator light has stopped ¯ashing
could damage the transfer case. To help avoid
damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO
indicator light to stop ¯ashing before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the 4LO switch is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds
the transfer case will return to the setting last chosen.
When in 4LO, the vehicle stability is disabled. For more
information see
StabilitrakžSystem on page 4-12.
Shifting Out of 4LO
To shift from 4LO to AWD your vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in RUN.
The preferred method for shifting out of 4LO is to have
your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press
and release the AWD switch. You must wait for the AWD
indicator light to stop ¯ashing and remain illuminated
before shifting your transmission into gear.
If the AWD switch is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the AWD indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
2-36

Shifting into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will
not roll
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
4. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle.
5. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
6. Shift the transfer case to AWD.
7. Simultaneously press and hold the Stabilitrak
žand
4LO buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL
light will come on when the transfer case shift
to NEUTRAL is complete.
8. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one
second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D)
for one second.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
10. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
11. Release the parking brake prior to towing.
Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (All-Wheel Drive or 4LO).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
2-37