2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE maintenance

Some messages cannot be cleared from the DIC
display because they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they can be
cleared. You should take any messages that
appear on the display seriously and remember that
clearing the messages will only make the
messages disappear, not correct the problem.
The following are the possible messages that can
be displayed and some information about them.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the engine oil needs
to be changed. When you change the engine
oil, be sure to reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message. SeeEngine Oil Life System
on page 462for information on how to reset the
message. This message clears itself after
10 seconds until the next ignition cycle or until the
message is reset. SeeEngine Oil on page 459
andScheduled Maintenance on page 579for more
information.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
system, this message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the vehicle’s tires need
to be checked. This message also displays
LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT REAR, or
RIGHT REAR to indicate which tire needs to
be checked. You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To read the other
messages that may have been sent at the same
time, press the set/reset button or the trip
odometer reset stem. If a tire pressure message
appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you can.
Have the tire pressures checked and set to those
shown on the Tire Loading Information label.
SeeTires on page 507,Loading Your Vehicle on
page 407, andInation - Tire Pressure on
page 515. The DIC display also shows the tire
pressure values for the front and rear tires
by pressing the vehicle information button. See
“DIC Operation and Displays (With DIC Buttons)”
earlier in this section. If the tire pressure is
low, the low tire pressure warning light comes on.
SeeTire Pressure Light on page 253.
271

Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary
maintenance and service work done. Check to
make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has
them, are properly attached. Be sure you read
all the information about your four-wheel-drive or
all-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inated? Are the
uid levels up where they should be? What are
the local laws that apply to off-roading where you
will be driving? If you do not know, you should
check with law enforcement people in the
area. Will you be on someone’s private land? If
so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
{CAUTION:
Cargo on the load oor piled higher
than the seatbacks can be thrown
forward during a sudden stop. You or
your passengers could be injured.
Keep cargo below the top of the
seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load oor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by ying objects.
Secure the cargo properly.
CAUTION: (Continued)
374

Driving in Water
{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you
could lose traction and roll the vehicle
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
Heavy rain can mean ash ooding, and ood
waters demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive
through it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe, do not try it — you
probably will not get through. Also, water that deep
can damage your axle and other vehicle parts.If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.
At faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition
system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also
occur if you get your tailpipe under water. And,
as long as your tailpipe is under water, you
will never be able to start your engine. When you
go through water, remember that when your
brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop.
SeeDriving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 390
for more information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the
body structure, steering, suspension, wheels,
tires, and exhaust system for damage. Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule for additional information.
388

CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
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.
437

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 505
Tires............................................................ 507
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 508
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 512
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 515
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 516
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 521
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 523
Buying New Tires...................................... 524
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 526
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 527
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 528
Wheel Replacement.................................. 528
Tire Chains............................................... 530
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 531
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 532
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 533
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 537
Secondary Latch System........................... 543
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 547
Spare Tire................................................. 552Appearance Care........................................ 553
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 553
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 554
Leather...................................................... 555
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 556
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 556
Weatherstrips............................................ 556
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 557
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 557
Finish Care............................................... 557
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper
Blades................................................... 558
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................ 559
Tires......................................................... 560
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 560
Finish Damage.......................................... 560
Underbody Maintenance............................ 560
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 561
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 561
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
442

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.
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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

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 616.
445

Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 106.
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 594.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. To
help keep the engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, GM recommends the use
of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 562.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine
(VIN Code 0) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 3),
you can use either regular unleaded gasoline or
ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol
(E85); also seeFuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 449. In all other engines, use only regular
unleaded gasoline.
446

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 458for the
location of the engine air
cleaner/lter and the
air lter restriction
indicator, if the vehicle
has one.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
If your vehicle has an air lter restriction indicator,
it lets you know when the engine air cleaner/lter
needs to be replaced. On vehicles with a restriction
indicator, you should inspect the air lter
restriction indicator at every oil change and
replace the engine air cleaner/lter when the
indicator tells you to.
On vehicles without an air lter restriction indicator,
inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change after
each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 579for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
464