2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE service

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.
428

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

Bulb Replacement....................................... 488
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 488
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps.............. 488
License Plate Lamp................................... 490
Replacement Bulbs................................... 490
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 491
Tires............................................................ 492
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 493
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 497
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 500
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 501
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 506
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 508
Buying New Tires...................................... 508
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 510
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 511
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 512Wheel Replacement.................................. 512
Tire Chains............................................... 514
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 515
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 516
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 518
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire......................... 522
Secondary Latch System........................... 529
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 533
Spare Tire................................................. 536
Appearance Care........................................ 537
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 537
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 538
Leather...................................................... 539
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces........................... 540
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 540
Weatherstrips............................................ 540
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
430

Washing Your Vehicle............................... 541
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 541
Finish Care............................................... 541
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 542
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 542
Tires......................................................... 543
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 544
Finish Damage.......................................... 544
Underbody Maintenance............................ 544
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 544
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 545
Vehicle Identication.................................. 546
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 546
Service Parts Identication Label............... 546Electrical System........................................ 547
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 547
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 547
Power Windows and Other
Power Options....................................... 547
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 548
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 548
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block......... 550
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 551
Capacities and Specications.................... 556
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
431

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will
go to your dealer for all your service needs.
You will get genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
432

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

Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.If you want to do some of your own service work,
you should use the proper service manual. It
tells you much more about how to service your
vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper
service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 600.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 86.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 578.
434

Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane
rating is less than 87, you may notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon
as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking,
your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specication D 4814 in the United States
or CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines
may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). General Motors recommends
against the use of gasolines containing MMT.
SeeAdditives on page 437for additional
information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control label.
If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will
operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 250. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
436