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
Lock-Out Switch
If you have power windows, the driver's door power
window switch has a lockout feature. The lockout switch
is located in front of the power window switches. This
feature prevents all windows from operating, except from
the driver's position, when the front driver's door button
labeled is engaged. To engage the lock-out feature press
the switch, and an indicator light will illuminate. To
disengage the feature, press the switch again and the
indicator light will go off. When the button is not engaged,
the passenger's power windows will operate.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the top and
bottom visors (if equipped). You can also swing
the bottom visor from side-to-side. Your visors may
have an extension that can be pulled out for additional
glare protection.
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirror
If equipped, pull the sun visor down and lift the mirror
cover to turn on the lamps. There is a slide switch
to adjust the brightness of the lamps.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may be equipped with a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
With this system, the
security light will ¯ash as
you open the door (if your
ignition is off), to let you
know that you are
activating the system.
2-18
{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
Temperature and Compass Display
Press the on/off button, located to the far left, brie¯y to
turn the comp/temp display on or off.
If the display reads CAL, you will need to calibrate the
compass. For more information on calibration, see below.
To adjust between Fahrenheit and Celsius do the
following:
1. Press and hold the on/off button for approximately
four seconds until either a ¯ashing ÉF, or ÉC
appears.
2. Press the button again to change the display to the
desired unit of measurement. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked
in and the compass/temperature display will return.
If an abnormal temperature 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 electrochromic (self dimming) mirror function is
turned on automatically each time the ignition is started.
To operate the electrochromic mirror do the following:
1. Make sure the green indicator light, located to
the left of the on/off button, is lit. If it's not, press
and hold the on/off button for approximately
six seconds until the green light comes on,
indicating that the mirror is in electrochromic
(self dimming) mode.
2. Turn off the electrochromic mirror function by
pressing and holding the on/off button for
approximately six seconds until the green indicator
light turns off.
2-46