2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE steering wheel

Audio Steering Wheel Controls
You can control certain radio functions using the buttons
on your steering wheel.
g(OnStar/Voice Recognition):If your vehicle has
OnStarž, you can press this button to interact with
the OnStaržsystem. See the OnStaržmanual provided
with your vehicle for more information.
IF your vehicle does not have OnStar
ž, pressing this
button will mute the audio system.
PROG (Program):Press this button to play a station
you have programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons
on the selected band. If a cassette tape is playing, press
this button to play the other side of the tape. If a CD is
playing, press this button to go to the next available CD.
QSOURCER:Press this button to select AM, FM1,
FM2, or XM1 or XM2, (USA only, if equipped), or a
cassette tape or CD. The cassette or CD must be loaded
to play. Available loaded sources are shown on the
display as a tape or a CD symbol.
QSEEKR:Press the up or the down arrow to seek
to the next or to the previous radio station and stay
there.
QVOLR:Press the up or the down arrow to increase
or to decrease volume.
DVD Distortion
You may experience audio distortion in the
IR headphones when operating cellular phones,
scanners, CB radios, Global Positioning Systems
(GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or walkie talkies.
It may be necessary to turn off the DVD player
when operating one of these devices in or near the
vehicle.
* Excludes the OnStar
žSystem.
3-126

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Assist System (TAS).........................4-10
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-12
Stabilitrak
žSystem.......................................4-12
Steering......................................................4-15
QUADRASTEERŸ........................................4-17
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-20
Passing.......................................................4-20
Loss of Control.............................................4-21
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel
Drive Vehicle............................................4-23
Driving at Night............................................4-40
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-42City Driving..................................................4-45
Freeway Driving...........................................4-46
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-47
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-48
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-49
Winter Driving..............................................4-51
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow........4-56
Towing..........................................................4-59
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-59
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-59
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-62
Level Control...............................................4-64
AutorideŸ...................................................4-64
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-65
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-65
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down ®rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Supplemental Brake Assist System
If your vehicle has vacuum assist power brakes, it is also
equipped with a supplemental brake assist system that
supplies additional vacuum to the vacuum brake booster
if engine vacuum is reduced. Under certain conditions,
the supplemental brake assist system may run brie¯y
after starting your vehicle or when you apply and release
the brake pedal and it may continue to run even after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal. When the
supplemental brake assist system is operating, you mayhear a motor running or feel a slight vibration in the
steering wheel or brake pedal. This indicates that the
supplemental brake assist system is working to supply
additional vacuum for your vacuum assist power brakes.
This is a normal operation of your brake system and does
not require that the brake system be serviced.
Each time you start your vehicle and accelerate to 10
mph, the supplemental brake assist system will perform a
self-diagnostic check of the system and you may hear or
feel the supplemental brake assist motor run brie¯y.
While you are driving your vehicle, the supplemental
brake assist system monitors itself to ensure that it is
operating properly. If there is a problem with the
supplemental brake assist system, the SERVICE BRAKE
BOOSTER message will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-64.
If your supplemental brake assist system runs every
time you apply and release the brake pedal or you notice
that the brake pedal has suddenly become much
harder to push and the vehicle takes longer to stop, you
should have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
4-9

Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you are
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems Ð steering and acceleration Ð have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding
the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. See
Traction Assist
System (TAS) on page 4-10.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
4-15

Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and ®nd
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking Ð if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can not; there is not
room. That is the time for evasive action Ð steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes.
See
Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible collision. Then
steer around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, you
can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer
quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
4-16

QUADRASTEERŸ
The QUADRASTEERŸ System has a control and
diagnostic module that monitors and records current
system status and operational information.
If your vehicle is equipped with the 4 Wheel Steer
system it has the ability to steer the vehicle with all four
wheels.
Once the 4 Wheel Steer mode is selected, it is
recommended to leave the vehicle in this mode at all
times, and during all driving and weather conditions.
You can select this mode at any speed, however, if you
are turning the system will not engage until the turn
is complete.
The 4 Wheel Steer system is equipped with three
different driving modes:
·Two wheel steering (2)
·Four wheel steering (4)
·Four wheel steering with a trailer mode (_)The switch is located on the instrument panel.
2:In this mode the vehicle will operate like any other
vehicle with two wheel steering. If you want to use 2
wheel steer mode and your vehicle is not in this mode,
press the button until the 2 indicator, located to the right
of the 4 Wheel Steer button, lights up. If the 2 indicator is
¯ashing you will have to center the steering wheel by
turning it to the left or right.
Your vehicle will return to 2 when the transmission is
shifted into NEUTRAL, for example when entering a
car wash.
4-17

If you want to use tire chains, the vehicle needs to be in 2
wheel steer mode. For more information seeTire Chains
on page 5-76.
4:In this mode all four wheels will help steer the vehicle.
If you want to use 4, and your vehicle is not in this mode,
press the button, until the 4 indicator, located to the right
of the 4 Wheel Steer button, comes on and stays on.
If the 4 indicator is ¯ashing you will have to center the
steering wheel by turning it to the left or right.
At slower speeds the front and rear wheels will turn in
opposite directions. This helps the vehicle make
tighter turns, such as during parking, cornering and
turning into tight spaces.At higher speeds the front and rear wheels will turn in
the same direction. This improves stability of the vehicle
during lane changes and sweeping turns.
_(4 Wheel Steer tow mode):When towing a
trailer the 4 wheel steer tow mode provides enhanced
stability allowing the trailer to follow the path of the tow
vehicle more closely, especially during lane changes.
In this mode the system operates much like the 4 mode,
but is enhanced for trailer towing. It is recommended
for all types and weights of trailers. Slower Speeds (below 40 m.p.h./ 64 km/h )
Higher Speeds (40 m.p.h./64 km/h, and above)
4-18

To engage the 4 Wheel Steer tow mode, press the
button until the 4 and tow mode indicators light up on
the instrument panel. If the tow indicator is ¯ashing you
will have to center the steering wheel by turning it to
the left or right. While in the 4 wheel steer tow mode, it
is possible the steering wheel may be slightly off
center. For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-65.
Car Washes for QUADRASTEERŸ
Equipped Vehicles
Notice:Because your vehicle has a wider rear
track a small number of older car washes may be
too narrow for your vehicle. Conveyor systems
on some automatic car washes may damage your
vehicle. Only use conveyor system car washes with
13-inch (33 cm) wide conveyor rails and/or
stationary washes with at least 82 inches (208 cm)
between the rails. Before using the car wash
check with the manager.
4-19