2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE parking brake

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine
is not running, but the
ignition is in RUN,
this gage shows your
battery’s state of
charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The charging
system regulates voltage based on the state of
the battery for improved fuel economy and battery
life. The gage may transition from a higher to
lower or a lower to higher reading, this is normal.
Readings between the low and high warning
zones indicate the normal operating range.Readings in the low warning zone may occur
when a large number of electrical accessories are
operating in the vehicle and the engine is left at
an idle for an extended period. This condition
is normal since the charging system is not able
to provide full power at engine idle. As engine
speeds are increased, this condition should
correct itself as higher engine speeds allow the
charging system to create full power. If there is
a problem with the battery charging system,
this light will come on or the SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM DIC message will display.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 267
andCharging System Light on page 245for more
information.
Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set the parking brake.
If you try to drive with the parking brake engaged,
a chime will sound when the vehicle speed is
greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
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SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message displays if there
is a problem with the battery charging system.
Under certain conditions, the charging system
light may also turn on in the instrument panel
cluster. SeeCharging System Light on page 245.
Driving with this problem could drain the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories. Have
the electrical system checked as soon
as possible. See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with the brake
system warning light if there is a problem with
the brake system. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 246. If this message appears, stop
as soon as possible and turn off the vehicle.
Restart the vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the
brake system needs service as soon as possible.
See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
This message displays if there is a problem with
the brake system. If this message appears, stop
as soon as possible and turn off the vehicle.
Restart the vehicle and check for the message on
the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the
brake system needs service. See your dealer.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system, this message displays
if there is a problem with the URPA system.
Do not use this system to help you park.
SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
on page 222for more information. See your
dealer for service.
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Q:What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or
is about to stall, and I cannot make it up
the hill?
A:If this happens, there are some things you
should do, and there are some things you
must not do. First, here is what youshoulddo:
Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle
and keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply
the parking brake.
If the engine is still running, shift the
transmission to REVERSE (R), release the
parking brake, and slowly back down the hill
in REVERSE (R).
If the engine has stopped running, you will
need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed
and the parking brake still applied, shift the
transmission to PARK (P) and restart the
engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R), release
the parking brake, and slowly back down the
hill as straight as possible in REVERSE (R).
As you are backing down the hill, put your left
hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock
position. This way, you will be able to tell if thewheels are straight and maneuver as you back
down. It is best that you back down the hill with
the wheels straight rather than in the left or right
direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or
right will increase the possibility of a rollover.
Here are some things youmust notdo if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting
into NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine
and regain forward momentum. This will
not work. Your vehicle will roll backwards
very quickly and you could go out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop
the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake.
Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking
brake, and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep
enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep
enough to cause you to roll over if you turn
around. If you cannot make it up the hill, you
must back straight down the hill.
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Q:Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down
the hill and decide I just cannot do it.
What should I do?
A:Set the parking brake, put the transmission in
PARK (P) and turn off the engine. Leave the
vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the
uphill side and stay clear of the path the
vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do not
shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL when
you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). This is
because the NEUTRAL position on the
transfer case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be injured.
If you are going to leave your vehicle,
set the parking brake and shift the
transmission to PARK (P). But do not
shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
Leave the transfer case in the Two-Wheel
High, Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel
Low position.
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Q:Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A:It is much more likely to happen going
uphill. But if it happens going downhill,
here is what to do.
1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular
brakes. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to PARK (P) and, while still braking,
restart the engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking
brake, and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and
get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably
go across the incline of a hill. If this happens,
you have to decide whether to try to drive across
the incline. Here are some things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or down
may be too steep to drive across. When you go
straight up or down a hill, the length of the
wheel base — the distance from the front
wheels to the rear wheels — reduces the
likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end.
But when you drive across an incline, the much
more narrow track width — the distance
between the left and right wheels — may not
prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Also, driving across an incline puts more weight
on the downhill wheels. This could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when
you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can cause the tires
to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something that will
trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over.
380

Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground.
Two-wheel drive vehicles should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal
lubrication while being towed.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to
the tow vehicle.
409

{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.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 132for
the proper procedure to select the neutral
position for your vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake only after the
vehicle being towed is rmly attached to
the towing vehicle.
Dolly Towing
Front Towing
(Front Wheels Off the Ground)
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle
with the rear wheels on the ground, the
transmission could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
Never tow your vehicle with the rear wheels
on the ground.
Two-wheel drive vehicles should not be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal
lubrication while being towed. To dolly tow a
two-wheel-drive vehicle, you must tow the vehicle
with the rear wheels on the dolly. See “Rear Towing
(Rear Wheels Off the Ground)” later in this section
for more information.
410

Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Drive the vehicle up onto the tow dolly.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
4. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
5. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to
the tow dolly.
{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 towing 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.
411