2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE automatic transmission

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

Delayed Locking
When you lock the doors using the power lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter with any door or
the liftgate open three chimes will signal that delayed
locking is being used.
Five seconds after the last door is closed, all the doors
will lock. All doors and liftgate can be re-opened for
up to ®ve seconds from the time the last door is closed.
You can lock the door immediately using the power
door lock switch or the optional remote keyless
entry transmitter a second time.
This feature will not lock the doors if the key is in the
ignition.
To enable or disable the delayed locking feature, do the
following:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch on the
driver's door in the lock position.
2. Press the remote keyless entry transmitter unlock
button twice.
If the feature is disabled, the doors will lock immediately
when a power door lock switch or remote keyless
entry transmitter button is pressed.
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Your vehicle may be equipped with an automatic
lock/unlock feature which enables you to program your
vehicle's power door locks. You can program this
feature through the Driver Information Center (DIC), or
by the following method.
Programmable Locking Feature
The following is the list of available programming options:
Mode 1:All doors lock when the transmission is shifted
into gear. This is the mode that is pre-programmed
in the factory for your vehicle for automatic transmission
vehicles.
Mode 2:All doors lock when the vehicle speed is
greater than 8 mph (13 km/h). This is the mode that is
pre-programmed in the factory for manual transmission
vehicles.
Mode 3:No automatic door locking.
2-10

The following instructions tell you how to change the
automatic door lock mode. Choose one of the three
programming options listed above before entering the
program mode. To enter the program mode, do the
following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2. Turn the key to RUN then back to LOCK twice.
Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn
signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the
doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice,
and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now
ready to program the automatic door lock feature.
3. Press the door lock switch once. You will hear one,
two, or three chimes. The number of chimes tells
you which lock mode is currently selected. Continue
to press the door lock switch until the number of
chimes that you hear matches the number of
the mode that you want. If you take longer than 30
seconds, the locks will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that
you have left the program mode. If this occurs,
you can repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1
to re-enter the programming mode.You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to RUN (the doors will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming mode,
the current automatic settings will not be modi®ed.
See your dealer for more information.
Programmable Unlocking Feature
The following is the list of available programming options:
Mode 1:Driver's door unlocks when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P)(automatic transmission vehicles
only).
Mode 2:All doors unlock when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P)(automatic transmission vehicles
only). This is the mode that is pre-programmed in
the factory for your vehicle.
Mode 3:All doors unlock when the key is removed
from the ignition This is the mode that is
pre-programmed in the factory for manual transmission
vehicles.
Mode 4:No automatic door unlock.
2-11

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission
and features an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster. This display must be
powered anytime the shift lever is capable of being
moved out of PARK (P).
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can't move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See ªShifting Into Park (P)º in the
Index. If you are pulling a trailer, see ªTowing
a Trailerº in the Index.
2-26

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.
If you manually select SECOND (2) in a light duty
automatic transmission, 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.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.
2-28

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

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

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK when
the ignition is the LOCK position. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. (There is no shift
interlock in this key position.)
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system ®xed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
2-42