2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE brake

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary,
a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too
often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions).
You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode
if the transmission shifts too often. See “Tow/Haul
Mode” earlier in this section.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, consider the following: Engine coolant
at higher altitudes will boil at a lower temperature
than at or near sea level. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, your vehicle
may show signs similar to engine overheating.To avoid this, let the engine run while parked
(preferably on level ground) with the automatic
transmission in PARK (P) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat
warning, seeEngine Overheating on page 460.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your
vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
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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.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transmission uid (don’t overll), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you nd them
quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea
to review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
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Trailer Wiring Harness
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Package
Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire
trailer towing harness. This harness with a
seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer connector
is attached to the rear bumper beam. It is located
next to the integrated trailer hitch.The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Red: Battery Feed **#
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake #
** If you are charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the tow/haul mode button located
at the end of the shift lever. This will boost
the vehicle system voltage and properly charge
the battery. If the trailer is too light for tow/haul
mode, you can turn on the headlamps as a
second way to boost the vehicle system and
charge the battery.
# The fuses for these circuits are installed in the
underhood electrical center, but the wires are
not connected. These circuits should be connected
by your dealer or a qualied service technician.
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Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are included with your
vehicle as part of the heavy-duty trailer wiring
package. These provisions are for an electric
brake controller. The instrument panel contains
blunt cut wires near the data link connector for
the trailer brake controller. The harness contains
the following wires:
Dark Blue: Auxiliary
Red/Black: Battery #
Light Blue: Brake Switch
White: Ground
The trailer brake controller should be installed
by your dealer or a qualied service center.
Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the
Cargo Weight Rating (CWR). CWR is the
maximum weight of the load your vehicle can
carry. It doesn’t include the weight of the people
inside, but you can gure about 150 lbs. (68 kg)
for each seat. The total cargo load must not
be more than your vehicles CWR.
Weigh your vehicle with your trailer attached,
so that you won’t go over the GVWR or GAWR.
If you are using a weight-distributing hitch,
weigh the vehicle without the spring bars in place.
You’ll get the best performance if you spread
out the weight of your load the right way, and if
you choose the correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information seeTowing a Trailer
on page 414.
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Service........................................................ 432
Accessories and Modications................... 433
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 433
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 434
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 435
Fuel............................................................. 435
Gasoline Octane........................................ 436
Gasoline Specications.............................. 436
California Fuel........................................... 436
Additives................................................... 437
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)............................ 438
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 439
Filling the Tank......................................... 440
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 442
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 442
Hood Release........................................... 443
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 444
Engine Oil................................................. 446
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 449Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 451
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 454
Engine Coolant.......................................... 457
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 460
Engine Overheating................................... 460
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 463
Cooling System......................................... 464
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 469
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 469
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 470
Brakes...................................................... 472
Battery...................................................... 475
Jump Starting............................................ 476
Rear Axle.................................................... 482
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 483
Front Axle................................................... 484
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 485
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
429

Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories
may even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one,
contain and/or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems (including
some inside the vehicle), many uids, and
some component wear by-products contain
and/or emit these chemicals.
433

{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
1. Pull the handle with
this symbol on it.
It is located inside
the vehicle to the
lower left of the
steering wheel.2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and locate
the secondary hood release, near the center
of the grille.
3. Push the secondary hood release to the right.
4. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ller
caps are on properly. Then bring the hood
from full open to within 6 inches (152 mm)
from the closed position, pause, then push
the front center of the hood with a swift,
rm motion to fully close the hood.
443