2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 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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Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the
other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on and a chime
sounds there could be a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light may also come on due to low brake uid.
SeeBrakes on page 472for more information.
This light should come on briey when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If it does not
come on then, have it xed so it will be ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the
light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 408.
United StatesCanada
247

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), this light
will come on when
you start your engine
and may stay on for
several seconds.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. A chime
will sound when the light stays on. If the regular
brake system warning light is not on, you still
have brakes, but you do not have ABS.If the regular brake system warning light is
also on you do not have ABS and there is a
problem with your regular brakes. In addition to
both lights, you will also hear a chime sound
on the rst occurrence of a problem and each
time the vehicle is shut off and then restarted.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 246.
The ABS warning light should come on briey
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This warning light
should come on
briey when the
engine is started.
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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.
273

SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak®, this message
displays when there is a problem with the Traction
Control System (TCS). When this message
displays, the system will not limit wheel spin.
Adjust your driving accordingly. See your dealer
for service. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 359
for more information.
STABILITRAK OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak®, this message
displays when you turn off StabiliTrak®,or
when the stability control has been automatically
disabled. To limit wheel spin and realize the
full benets of the stability enhancement system,
you should normally leave StabiliTrak
®on.
However, you should turn StabiliTrak®off if your
vehicle gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow
and you want to rock your vehicle to attempt to
free it, or if you are driving in extreme off-road
conditions and require more wheel spin. See
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 400. To turn the StabiliTrak
®
system on or off, seeStabiliTrak®System
on page 359.There are several conditions that can cause
this message to appear.
One condition is overheating, which could
occur if StabiliTrak®activates continuously
for an extended period of time.
The message also displays if the brake
system warning light is on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 246.
The message could display if the stability
system takes longer than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving conditions.
The message displays if an engine or vehicle
related problem has been detected and the
vehicle needs service. See your dealer.
The message also displays if the vehicle is
shifted into 4LO.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions
that caused the message to be displayed are
no longer present.
275

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 352
Defensive Driving...................................... 352
Drunken Driving........................................ 353
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 356
Braking...................................................... 356
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 357
Braking in Emergencies............................. 359
Locking Rear Axle..................................... 359
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 359
Steering.................................................... 363
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 365
Passing..................................................... 365
Loss of Control.......................................... 367
Off-Road Driving........................................ 368
Driving at Night......................................... 385
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 387
City Driving............................................... 390
Freeway Driving........................................ 391Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 392
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 393
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 394
Winter Driving........................................... 396
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow ................................. 400
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 400
Recovery Hooks........................................ 401
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 402
Truck-Camper Loading Information............ 407
Towing........................................................ 408
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 408
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 408
Level Control............................................. 413
Towing a Trailer........................................ 414
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 428
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
351

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow
or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control
systems than the tires and road can provide.
That means you can lose control of your vehicle.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 359.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 433.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 246.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
356

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 433.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that
will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 248.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP
problem, both the brake and ABS warning lights
will come on accompanied by a 10-second
chime. The lights and chime will come on each
time the ignition is turned on until the problem is
repaired. See your dealer for service.
357