2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE transmission

Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to LOCK only when the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
The key should come out only in LOCK.
Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service is
required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then
release the parking brake followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service is
required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-12

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number or specication may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets GM
Standard GM6094M and displays
the American Petroleum Institute
Certied for Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. GM Goodwrench
oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle. To determine the
proper viscosity for your vehicle’s
engine, seeEngine Oil on
page 5-16.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only
DEX-COOL
®Coolant. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-26.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184, in
Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Front AxleSAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 1052271,
in Canada 10950849).
Rear AxleSAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle
Lubricant (GM Part No. U.S.
12378261, in Canada 10953455)
meeting GM Specication 9986115.
6-13

Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-222-1020, or write:
Chevrolet Motor Division
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00
7-13

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Setting the Time..........................................3-73
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-114
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-115
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-117
Automatic Climate Control System.....................3-22
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation..........2-50, 2-53
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-16
Automatic Transfer Case..................................2-38
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-34
Auxiliary Battery..............................................4-82
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch.................3-19
B
Backing Up....................................................4-76
Battery..........................................................5-47
BATTERY NOT CHARGING.............................3-66
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-41
Before You Drive...........................................3-100
Before You Go Off-Roading..............................4-20Brake
Parking......................................................2-42
System Warning Light..................................3-42
Brake Adjustment............................................5-46
Brake Fluid....................................................5-43
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-33
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-46
Brake Wear...................................................5-46
Brakes..........................................................5-43
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-30
BUCKLE PASSENGER....................................3-69
BUCKLE SEATBELT.......................................3-69
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-58
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-65
Daytime Running Lamps...............................5-65
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-63
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps....................................................5-62
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-58
Headlamps.................................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-66
Taillamps....................................................5-65
Buying New Tires...........................................5-83
2

E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-92
Electrical System...........................................5-119
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-120
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-120
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-120
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-49
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Battery.......................................................5-47
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-47
Coolant......................................................5-26
Coolant Heater............................................2-33
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-45
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-47
Fan Noise..................................................5-40
Oil .............................................................5-16
Overheating................................................5-29
Starting......................................................2-32
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-66
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-19
ENGINE OVERHEATED..................................3-66
Entry Lighting and Exit Lighting.........................3-20Environmental Concerns..................................4-21
Erasing HomeLink
®Buttons..............................2-64
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................7-10
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-29
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).................................3-77, 3-89
Finding a Station....................................3-75, 3-87
Finish Care..................................................5-115
Finish Damage.............................................5-117
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-116
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-89
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-90
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-23
Power Steering...........................................5-41
Windshield Washer......................................5-42
FM Stereo....................................................3-115
Fog Lamps....................................................3-18
Following Distance..........................................4-76
6

Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-38, 5-56
Front Armrest Storage Area..............................2-65
Front Axle......................................................5-57
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-38
Frontal Air Bags.............................................1-57
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-52
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-52
Fuel Information Button....................................3-56
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-67
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-120
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-120G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-45
Fuel..........................................................3-52
Oil Pressure...............................................3-50
Speedometer..............................................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Transmission Temperature.............................3-45
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-41
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-61
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-64
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-22
Glove Box.....................................................2-65
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-6
7

Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Temperature Gage.......................................3-45
TRANSMISSION HOT.....................................3-68
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-34
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-13
Transportation Options...................................... 7-9
Traveling to Remote Areas...............................4-22
Trip Information Button....................................3-54
Truck-Camper Loading Information....................4-67
Turn and Lane Change Signals.......................... 3-8
TURN SIGNAL ON.........................................3-67
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-77
U
Underhood Fuse Block...................................5-123
Understanding Radio Reception.......................3-115
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-85
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-5
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-87
Using Cleaner on Fabric................................5-112
Using HomeLink
®...........................................2-64
Using Song List Mode.....................................3-97
Using the Recovery Hooks...............................4-50
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-55
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders..................................................7-10
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)............................................5-119
Service Parts Identication Label..................5-119
Vehicle Personalization
Memory Seat..............................................2-90
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-47
Vehicles with Body-Side Cladding..............5-58, 5-62
Vehicles with Gray Body-Side Cladding..............5-65
Vehicles without Body-Side Cladding.........5-60, 5-63
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-32
Video Screen................................................3-103
Visors...........................................................2-26
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-41
17