2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE warning

Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only
the proper mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 574for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 444for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the FULL COLD mark.
If your vehicle is equipped with a low coolant
sensor and the LOW COOLANT LEVEL message
comes on and stays on, it means you are low
on engine coolant. See “LOW COOLANT LEVEL”
underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 267.
459

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the surge tank,
but only when the engine is cool. SeeCooling
System on page 464.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not
spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure
it is hand-tight and fully seated.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 444for more
information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 249.
In addition, you will nd an ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE, ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE, and an ENGINE
POWER IS REDUCED message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) on the instrument panel.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 267.
460

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant condition,
can indicate a serious problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 414.If you get the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE message with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on,
turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it is safe to
do so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and
park your vehicle immediately.
462

If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle
is equipped with an engine-driven cooling fan,
push down the accelerator until the engine speed
is about twice as fast as normal idle speed for
at least ve minutes while you are parked.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle
is equipped with an electric cooling fan, idle
the engine for ve minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is
displayed, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps prevent
engine damage. In this mode, you will notice a
loss in power and engine performance. This
operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency. Driving extended
miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil on page 446.
463

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant
and the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. You can remove
the coolant surge
tank pressure
cap when the
cooling system,
including the
coolant surge tank
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
about one full turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
467

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 444for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have your
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well,
or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you
add uid when your linings are worn, then you
will have too much uid when you get new brake
linings. You should add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is done on
the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can
spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 246.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to check your brake uid. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 563.
472

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied
or lightly applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear.
474

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace
parts of your braking system — for example, when
your brake linings wear down and you need new
ones put in — be sure you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes
may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for
your vehicle, the balance between your front
and rear brakes can change — for the worse.
The braking performance you have come to
expect can change in many other ways if someone
puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 444for battery location.Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 476for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
475