2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Owners Manual

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the hotline.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may call them at
1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Place de Ville Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you will notify
General Motors. Please call the Chevrolet Customer
Assistance Center 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.
7-11

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.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE
(1-800-463-7483).
Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-12

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-54
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-64
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-29
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning......................................3-20, 3-23
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-32
Readiness Light..........................................3-31
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-50
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-64
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-58
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-60
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-64
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-57
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-58
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-56
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-53
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-104
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System........................................3-104
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-36
Appearance Care............................................5-94Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-100
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-97
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-101
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-98
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-95
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-96
Finish Care.................................................5-98
Finish Damage..........................................5-101
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-97
Leather......................................................5-97
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-101
Tires........................................................5-100
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-101
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-102
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-98
Weatherstrips..............................................5-98
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-99
Ashtrays........................................................3-20
Audio System(s).............................................3-64
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-102
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-104
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-104
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-104
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-104
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual...................................................3-89
Radio with CD............................................3-65
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-76
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-101
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Setting the Time..........................................3-65
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-102
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-103
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-104
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-22
Operation...................................................2-31
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch.................3-17
B
Battery..........................................................5-41
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-38
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-38
System Warning Light..................................3-35
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-29
Brakes..........................................................5-38
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-26Bulb Replacement...........................................5-50
Daytime Running Lamps...............................5-56
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-54
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-53
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Headlamps.................................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-58
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-57
Buying New Tires...........................................5-69C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-112
Carbon Monoxide...................2-11, 2-20, 2-42, 4-64
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-97
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-104
Your CDs and DVDs..................................3-104
Cargo Area, All-Weather..................................2-70
Cargo Cover Panels........................................2-59
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-58
2

Center Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts....1-22
Center Overhead Console................................2-57
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Charging System Light....................................3-34
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-40
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-101
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-31
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-42
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System..............................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-46
Top Strap...................................................1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-104
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-20Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-100
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-98
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-96
Finish Care.................................................5-98
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-95
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-97
Leather......................................................5-97
Tires........................................................5-100
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-101
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-98
Weatherstrips..............................................5-98
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-99
Climate Control System
Dual..........................................................3-20
Dual Automatic............................................3-23
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-26
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-24
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-38
Heater, Engine............................................2-30
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-28
Cooling System..............................................5-30
Cruise Control................................................3-10
3

Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-9
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamps.................................................3-18Door
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-9
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-14
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-45
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-46
DIC Vehicle Customization............................3-58
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-49
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-31
City...........................................................4-35
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-39
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-32
Recovery Hooks..........................................4-46
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-46
Winter........................................................4-41
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-23
Dual Climate Control System............................3-20
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-90
4

E
Electrical System...........................................5-103
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-106
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-104
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-104
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-104
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-107
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-104
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-41
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-40
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Heater............................................2-30
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-38
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-42
Fan Noise..................................................5-35
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-30
Overheating................................................5-28
Starting......................................................2-28
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-18
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-28
Exterior Cargo Lamps......................................3-17
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finish Damage.............................................5-101
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-104
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-74
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-75
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-91
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-22
Power Steering...........................................5-36
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-34, 5-48
Front Armrest Storage Area..............................2-57
Front Axle......................................................5-49
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
E-85 (85% Ethanol)....................................... 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-44
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-45
5

Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-106
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-104
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-104
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-107
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-104
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-38
Fuel..........................................................3-44
Oil Pressure...............................................3-42
Speedometer..............................................3-31
Tachometer.................................................3-31
Transmission Temperature.............................3-38
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-35
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-53
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-57
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamps....................................................5-50
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-15
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-50
Daytime Running Lamps.......................3-15, 5-56
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Daytime Running Lamps...........................5-54
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-53
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-15
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-20
Heater...........................................................3-23
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-44
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-38
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-39
HomeLink
®Wireless Control System.................2-53
HomeLink®Wireless Control
System Operation........................................2-54
6