2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE traction control

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wheels will
not get good traction. You can not accelerate as
quickly, turning is more difficult, and you will need longer
braking distances.
It’s best to use a low gear when you are in mud — the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep
mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle moving so you do
not get stuck.
When you drive on sand, you will sense a change in
wheel traction. But it will depend upon how loosely
packed the sand is. On loosely packed sand (as
on beaches or sand dunes) your tires will tend to sink
into the sand. This has an effect on steering,
accelerating and braking. Drive at a reduced speed and
avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control.
On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you
will have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get
moving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause
you to slide out of control.{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents
under the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the
ice. Your vehicle could fall through the ice and
you and your passengers could drown. Drive
your vehicle on safe surfaces only.
4-31

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim anges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
5-85

Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
5-86

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle is a 1500 Series, don’t use tire
chains. They can damage your vehicle because
there’s not enough clearance. Tire chains used
on a vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the brakes,
suspension or other vehicle parts. The area
damaged by the tire chains could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t
spin your wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the rear tires.Notice:If your vehicle is a 2500 Series, use tire
chains only where legal and only when you must.
Use chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the tires of the rear axle. Don’t
use chains on the tires of the front axle. Tighten
them as tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If the contact continues, slow down until
it stops. Driving too fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on will damage your vehicle.
5-88

J
Jump Starting.................................................5-48
K
KEYFOB X BATTERY LOW.............................3-70
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Lamps
Exterior......................................................3-14
Interior.......................................................3-20
Lamps On Reminder.......................................3-16
Lap Belt........................................................1-23
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-14, 1-25
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-44
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running . . . 2-45
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR................................3-70Level Control..................................................4-62
Light
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-36
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-43
Brake System Warning.................................3-42
Charging System.........................................3-40
Cruise Control.............................................3-51
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-52
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light...................3-43
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-47
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator................3-38
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-36
Security.....................................................3-51
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................3-51
Traction Off................................................3-44
Listening to a DVD.........................................3-99
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-55
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving..........4-20
Locking Rear Axle...........................................4-11
Lockout Protection..........................................2-13
Locks
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Door........................................................... 2-8
Lockout Protection.......................................2-13
9

T
Tachometer....................................................3-35
Tailgate.........................................................2-23
Tailgate Removal............................................2-24
Taillamps.......................................................5-65
Temperature and Compass Display....................2-50
Temperature Display........................................2-53
Testing the Alarm............................................2-28
Theft-Deterrent, Radio....................................3-114
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-27
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-27
Passlock
®...................................................2-29
Throttle, Adjustable..........................................2-33
TIGHTEN FUEL CAP......................................3-67
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-7
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-68
Tire Size.......................................................5-72
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-74
Tires...................................................5-68, 5-116
Buying New Tires........................................5-83
Chains.......................................................5-88
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-90
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-89
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-76
Inspection and Rotation................................5-81
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-77
Spare Tire................................................5-110
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-85
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-86Tires (cont.)
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-86
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-82
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-34
Tonneau Cover...............................................2-83
Top Drain Grates – Removal and Cleaning.........2-79
Top Strap......................................................1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-41
Top-Box Storage.............................................2-82
Torque Lock...................................................2-45
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-74
Tow/Haul Mode...............................................2-37
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-51
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-52
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-68
Your Vehicle...............................................4-52
Traction
Assist System (TAS)...................................... 4-9
Off Light.....................................................3-44
Stabilitrak
®System......................................4-11
TRACTION ACTIVE........................................3-70
Traction Control Operation................................4-13
TRACTION SYS LIMITED................................3-70
Trailer
Recommendations.......................................4-67
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-75
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................4-79
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE.............................3-68
Transfer Case................................................5-56
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