2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE ABS

Remember: StabiliTrak®helps avoid only the
acceleration skid. SeeStabiliTrak®System
on page 359. If the StabiliTrak®System is off,
then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited.While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have
four-wheel drive. Also, seeBraking on page 356.
If your vehicle does not have four-wheel drive,
you should not drive off-road unless you are on
a level, solid surface.
368

The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS,
you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) on page 357.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
ne until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps
of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before
you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could
be in a serious situation. You should probably
stay with your vehicle unless you know for
sure that you are near help and you can hike
through the snow. Here are some things to do
to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police
that you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you. If you do not have blankets or
extra clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, oor
mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
398

{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or
someone else could be seriously injured.
Be sure to set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL.
SeeParking Brake on page 138.
6. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 132for
the proper procedure to select the neutral
position for your vehicle.
7. Release the parking brake only after the
vehicle being towed is rmly attached to
the tow vehicle.
If the tow vehicle will not be started or driven
for six weeks or more, remove the battery
cable from the negative terminal (post) of
the battery to prevent your battery from
draining while towing.
Level Control
The self-adjusting rear suspension may come
as part of the premium smooth ride suspension
package.
This type of level control will provide a leveled
riding position as well as improved handling
under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions. A hydraulic pump inside each rear
shock absorber raises the rear of the vehicle to
the proper height, based on inputs from the
road surface, while the vehicle is being driven.
It take approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) of driving
for the leveling to complete, depending on the
road surface conditions.
If the loaded vehicle is not moved for
approximately 12 hours, the leveling system
may bleed down to a lower height. This can be
especially apparent if a trailer is left attached to
a parked vehicle for long periods of time. The
vehicle must be driven to re-level the vehicle.
If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, the
vehicle should be driven approximately 2 miles
(3.2 km) with the trailer prior to adjusting the hitch.
413

3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear and not in
NEUTRAL (N).
6. Release the regular brakes.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, use the steps that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set.
If the transfer case on four-wheel-drive
vehicles is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will
be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL.
425

Do not clean your vehicle using the following
cleaners or techniques:
Never use a knife or any other sharp object to
remove a soil from any interior surface.
Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage
to your vehicle’s interior surfaces.
Never apply heavy pressure or rub
aggressively with a cleaning cloth. Use of
heavy pressure can damage your interior and
does not improve the effectiveness of soil
removal.
Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid
laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers. Using too much soap will leave
a residue that leaves streaks and attracts dirt.
For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops per
gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide.
Do not heavily saturate your upholstery while
cleaning.
Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result
from the use of many organic solvents such
as naptha, alcohol, etc.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush
attachment frequently to remove dust and loose
dirt. A canister vacuum with a beater bar in
the nozzle may only be used on oor carpet and
carpeted oor mats. For soils, always try to remove
them rst with plain water or club soda. Before
cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil
as possible using one of the following techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil
with a paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into
the paper towel until no more can be
removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as
possible and then vacuum.
To clean, use the following instructions:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with
water or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
538

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 433
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 226
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................ 87
Additives, Fuel............................................ 437
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 547
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal............ 126
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 451
Air Conditioning..................................227, 230
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 243
Readiness Light....................................... 242
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 594
Airbag System............................................... 72
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 87
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 79
Passenger Sensing System....................... 81
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 86
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 79
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?...................................... 80
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 77
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 75Antenna, Fixed Mast................................... 349
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System....................................... 349
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 357
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 248
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels........ 542
Care of Safety Belts................................ 540
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 544
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 541
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 537
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 538
Finish Care.............................................. 541
Finish Damage......................................... 544
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces.......................... 540
Leather.................................................... 539
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 544
Tires........................................................ 543
Underbody Maintenance........................... 544
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 545
Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 541
Weatherstrips........................................... 540
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 542
Ashtray(s).................................................... 226
603

Audio System(s).......................................... 286
Audio Steering Wheel Controls................. 347
Care of Your CD and DVD Player............ 349
Care of Your CDs and DVDs................... 349
Fixed Mast Antenna................................. 349
Navigation/Radio System,
see Navigation Manual......................... 334
Radio with CD......................................... 291
Radio with CD and DVD.......................... 301
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)............................ 345
Setting the Time.....................288, 289, 290
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................ 347
Understanding Radio Reception............... 348
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...... 349
Automatic Headlamp System....................... 217
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................................ 454
Operation................................................. 128
BBattery........................................................ 475
Electric Power Management..................... 220
Run-Down Protection............................... 221
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 392
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)................. 357
Emergencies............................................ 359Brake (cont.)
Parking.................................................... 138
System Warning Light.............................. 246
Brake Pedal, Throttle................................... 126
Brakes........................................................ 472
Braking....................................................... 356
Braking in Emergencies............................... 359
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 122
Bulb Replacement....................................... 488
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 488
Headlamp Aiming..................................... 485
License Plate Lamps................................ 490
Replacement Bulbs.................................. 490
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps........... 488
Buying New Tires........................................ 508
C
Calibration..........................................145, 148
California Fuel............................................. 436
California Proposition 65 Warning................ 433
Canadian Owners........................................... 3
Capacities and Specications...................... 556
Carbon Monoxide......................105, 115, 143,
396, 414
604