2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE transmission

If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called″torque
lock.″To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To nd out how, seeShifting Into
Park (P) on page 2-39.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P)
when the ignition is in 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.
2-41

Programming the HomeLink®
Transmitter
Do not use the HomeLink®Transmitter with any garage
door opener that does not have the “stop and reverse”
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982. If you have a newer
garage door opener with rolling codes, please be
sure to follow steps 6 through 8 to complete the
programming of your HomeLink
®Transmitter.
Read the instructions completely before attempting to
program the HomeLink
®Transmitter. Because of
the steps involved, it may be helpful to have another
person available to assist you in programming the
transmitter.
Keep the original transmitter for use in other vehicles as
well as for future HomeLink
®programming. It is also
recommended that upon the sale of the vehicle,
the programmed HomeLink
®buttons should be erased
for security purposes. Refer to “Erasing HomeLink®
Buttons” or, for assistance, contact HomeLink®on the
internet at: www.homelink.com or by calling
1-800-355-3515.
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door or gate operator you are programming. When
programming a garage door, it is advised to park outside
of the garage.It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio frequency.
Your vehicle’s engine should be turned off while
programming the transmitter. Follow these steps to
program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons,
releasing only when the indicator light begins to
ash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold down the
buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat this step to program a second and/or third
transmitter to the remaining two HomeLink
®buttons.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter about
1 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the HomeLink
®
buttons while keeping the indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the desired
button on HomeLink
®and the hand-held transmitter
button. Do not release the buttons until Step 4
has been completed.
Some entry gates and garage door openers may
require you to substitute Step 3 with the procedure
noted in “Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this section.
4. The indicator light will ash slowly at rst and then
rapidly after HomeLink
®successfully receives the
frequency signal from the hand-held transmitter.
Release both buttons.
2-59

Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require transmitter
signals to “time out” or quit after several seconds of
transmission. This may not be long enough for
HomeLink
®to pick up the signal during programming.
Similarly, some U.S. gate operators are manufactured to
“time out” in the same manner.
If you live in Canada, or you are having difficulty
programming a gate operator by using the
“Programming HomeLink
®” procedures (regardless of
where you live), replace Step 3 under “Programming
HomeLink
®” with the following:
Continue to press and hold the HomeLink
®button while
you press and release every two seconds (cycle)
your hand-held transmitter until the frequency signal has
been successfully accepted by HomeLink
®. The
indicator light will ash slowly at rst and then rapidly.
Proceed with Step 4 under “Programming HomeLink
®”
to complete.
Using HomeLink®
Press and hold the appropriate HomeLink®button for at
least half of a second. The indicator light will come
on while the signal is being transmitted.
Erasing HomeLink®Buttons
To erase programming from the three buttons do the
following:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons until
the indicator light begins to ash, after 20 seconds.
2. Release both buttons. Do not hold for longer than
30 seconds.
HomeLink
®is now in the train (learning) mode and can
be programmed at any time beginning with Step 2
under “Programming HomeLink
®.”
Individual buttons can not be erased, but they can be
reprogrammed. See “Reprogramming a Single
HomeLink
®Button” next.
2-61

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-18
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-21
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-21
Climate Controls............................................3-22
Climate Control System.................................3-22
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-23
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-27
Rear Air Conditioning System.........................3-34
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.......3-35
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System
and Electronic Climate Controls...................3-37
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-39
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-40
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-41
Tachometer.................................................3-41Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-41
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-42
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-42
Battery Warning Light....................................3-44
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-44
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-45
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light...........................................3-46
Traction Off Light..........................................3-46
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-47
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-48
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-49
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-50
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-53
Cruise Control Light......................................3-54
Four-Wheel-Drive Light..................................3-54
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-54
Fuel Gage...................................................3-55
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-55
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-56
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-56
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-68
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

A. Dome Lamp Override Button. See “Dome Lamps”
underInterior Lamps on page 3-18.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. SeeDual Climate Control System on
page 3-23.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Stabilitrak
®Mode Button
(AWD Vehicles)/Traction Assist System (TAS).
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-30.
E. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-40.
G. Gearshift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26.
H. Tow/Haul Selector Button (If Equipped). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-76.
J. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-22.K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.
L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-12.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-56.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-110.
O. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
P. Parking Brake Release. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-38.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlets. See
Accessory Power Outlets on page 3-21.
R. Storage Area (If Equipped). SeeFront Storage Area
on page 2-63.
S. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-21.
T. Glovebox. SeeGlove Box on page 2-63.
3-5

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the set button at the end of the lever,
then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed. If the
accelerator pedal is held longer than 60 seconds,
cruise control will turn off.
Move the cruise switch from on to resume/
accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the speed
you want, and then release the switch. To increase
your speed in very small amounts, move the switch
briey to resume/accelerate. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control

Press in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey press
the set button. Each time you do this, you’ll go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers nd this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
move the cruise control switch to off, or
shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
If your vehicle has the Stabilitrak®feature, cruise
control will turn off if road conditions cause
Stabilitrak
®to activate.
If the accelerator pedal is held for 60 seconds or
longer, cruise control will turn off.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-13

Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your
ignition is off, in LOCK, ACCESSORY, or your door is
open. To disable the chime, turn the light off then
back on.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on
The exterior lamps control is AUTO
The automatic transmission is not in PARK (P)
The light sensor determines it is daytimeWhen the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be
on. The instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the last
chosen headlamp setting that was used.
When you turn the headlamp switch off, the headlamps
will go off, and your DRL lamps will illuminate,
provided it is not dark outside.
Shifting the transmission into PARK (P) will allow you to
idle the vehicle with the DRL off. The DRL will stay
off until you shift the transmission out of PARK (P).
This procedure applies only to vehicles rst sold in the
United States.
3-16

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about how much fuel you have and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely and
economically.United States Heavy Duty Transmission version shown. Canada and Light Duty
Transmission Clusters similar.
3-40