2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE instrument panel

Instrument Panel Overview
3-4

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-31.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-33.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-35.
F. Tow/Haul Selector Button (If Equipped).
SeeTow/Haul Mode on page 2-38.
G. Driver Information Center Controls. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-50.
H. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-75.
I. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
J. Dome Lamp Override Button. SeeDome Lamp
Override on page 3-18.
K. Automatic Transfer Case Control. (If Equipped).
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-39.
L. Cruise Control Buttons. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-12.M. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
N. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
O. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-118.
P. Climate Control System or Dual Automatic Climate
Control System (If Equipped). SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-21orDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-24.
Q. Accessory Power Outlets. SeeAccessory
Power Outlet(s) on page 3-20. Cigarette Lighter
(If Equipped). SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
on page 3-20.
R. StabiliTrak
®Button. SeeStabiliTrak®System
on page 4-6. Pedal Adjust Button (If Equipped).
SeeAdjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on
page 2-33. Rear Park Assist Disable Button
(If Equipped). SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) on page 2-58. Heated Windshield Washer
Fluid Button (If Equipped). SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-11. Power Running Boards Disable Button
(If Equipped). SeePower Running Boards on
page 2-22.
S. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-71.
3-5

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever for
less than one second until the arrow starts to ash.
This will cause the turn signals to automatically
ash three times. It will ash six times if the tow-haul
mode is active. Holding the turn signal lever for
more than one second will cause the turn signals to
ash until you release the lever. The lever will return
by itself when it is released.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash
in the direction of the
turn or lane change.As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers will not see your
turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown
fuse. SeeInstrument Panel Fuse Block on page 5-109
andUnderhood Fuse Block on page 5-111.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each ash of the turn
signal and the message TURN SIGNAL ON will also
appear in the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-59. To turn the chime and message off, move
the turn signal lever to the off position.
3-8

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
53(Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer):To
change the headlamps from low to high beam, push the
lever toward the instrument panel. To return to low-beam
headlamps, pull the multifunction lever toward you. Then
release it.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are in the automatic
position.To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then
release it.
If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on
low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on.
They will stay on as long as you hold the lever toward
you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument
panel cluster will come on. Release the lever to return
to normal operation.
Windshield Wipers
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If they are frozen to the windshield, gently loosen
or thaw them. Damaged wiper blades may not clear the
windshield well, making it harder to see and drive safely.
If the blades do become damaged, install new blades or
blade inserts. For more information, seeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-55.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
3-9

Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if your parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake uid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on after the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control On/Off button.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−button located on the steering
wheel and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This shuts off the
cruise control. But you do not need to reset it.
Once you are driving about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, press the +RES button on your steering wheel.
The vehicle will go back to the previous set speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until you reach your new desired speed,
then release it.
To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time you do this,
you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce your speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button on the steering wheel briey. Each
time you do this, the vehicle will go about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.
3-13

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed down.
Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble
and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the cancel button on the steering wheel.
Press the On/Off button on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on the
instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The exterior lamps control has four positions:
9(Off):Turn the control to this position to turn off the
automatic headlamps and daytime running lamps (DRL).
Turn the headlamp control to the off position again to turn
the automatic headlamps or DRL back on.
For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the off position will only
work when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
3-14

AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
When the vehicle is turned off and the headlamps are
in AUTO, the headlamps may automatically remain
on for a set time. The time of the delay can be changed
using the DIC. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-50.
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the following:
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate LampsWhen the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is
on, the headlamps turn off automatically 10 minutes after
the ignition is turned off. When the headlamps are turned
on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will stay on for
10 minutes before automatically turning off to prevent the
battery from being drained. Turn the headlamp control to
off and then back to the headlamp on position to make
the headlamps stay on for an additional 10 minutes.
Push the turn signal/multifunction lever toward the
instrument panel to change the headlamps from low
beam to high beam.
Headlamps on Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime will sound when
your headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned on
and your key is out of the ignition. To turn off the chime,
turn the headlamp switch to off or AUTO and then back
on, or close and re-open the door. In the AUTO mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition is in LOCK or may
remain on until the headlamp delay ends (if enabled in
the DIC). See “Exit Lighting” underDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-66.
3-15

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in PARK (P).
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only the DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will not
be on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the exterior lamps
control to the OFF position and then release. For
vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission must be
in the PARK (P) position, before the DRL lamps can
be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside and the headlamp
switch is in AUTO, the automatic headlamp system will
turn on the headlamps at the normal brightness along
with other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps, roof marker lamps, and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then release.
For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission must
be in the PARK (P) position, before the automatic
headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered, or
the system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems
so that driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system will only be affected when the light
sensor sees a change in lighting lasting longer than
the delay.
3-16