2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE steering wheel

Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou 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). If the transmission shifts too
often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions)
you may want to shift the transmission to a lower
gear selection or enable the Tow/Haul mode, if
equipped. See “Tow/Haul Mode” earlier in this section.
4-61

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of the Vehicle.............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-14
Hood Release..............................................5-14
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-16
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(4-Speed Transmission)..............................5-24Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission)..............................5-27
Engine Coolant.............................................5-31
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . .5-36
Cooling System............................................5-37
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-47
Jump Starting...............................................5-48
Rear Axle.......................................................5-54
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-55
Front Axle......................................................5-56
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-58
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-61
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-61
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps...................................5-61
License Plate Lamp......................................5-63
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-64
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{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.
5-14

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire creates a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-89

Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The instrument panel fuse block access door is located
on the driver side edge of the instrument panel.
Fuses Usage
1 Rear Seats
2 Rear Accessory Power Outlet
3 Steering Wheel Controls Backlight
4 Driver Door Module
Fuses Usage
5Dome Lamps, Driver Side Turn
Signal
6 Driver Side Turn Signal, Stoplamp
7 Instrument Panel Back Lighting
8Passenger Side Turn Signal,
Stoplamp
9 Universal Home Remote
10 Power Door Lock 2 (Unlock Feature)
11 Power Door Lock 2 (Lock Feature)
12Stoplamps, Center-High Mounted
Stoplamp
13 Rear Climate Controls
14 Not Used
15 Body Control Module (BCM)
16 Accessory Power Outlets
17 Interior Lamps
18 Power Door Lock 1 (Unlock Feature)
19 Rear Seat Entertainment
5-120

Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
Check the sealant expiration date printed on the
instruction label of the Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit (if equipped) at least once a year. See your
dealer/retailer for a replacement canister.
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets GM
Standard GM6094M and displays
the American Petroleum Institute
Certied for Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. To determine
the proper viscosity for your
vehicle’s engine, seeEngine
Oil on page 5-17.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-31.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Front Axle
(1500 Series
Vehicles with
Four-Wheel
Drive)SAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021671,
in Canada 89021672).
6-13

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-41
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-90
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-119
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-28
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-22, 3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-38
Readiness Light..........................................3-37
Airbag System................................................1-76
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-90
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-83
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-85
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-90
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-83
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-84
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-81
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-78
Antenna, Rear Side Window...........................3-118
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-118
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Anti-lock Brake, System Warning Light...............3-42Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-114
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-112
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-116
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-113
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-110
Finish Care...............................................5-113
Finish Damage..........................................5-116
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-111
Interior Cleaning........................................5-109
Leather....................................................5-111
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-115
Tires........................................................5-115
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-116
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-117
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-112
Weatherstrips............................................5-112
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades......5-114
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-21
Audio System.................................................3-75
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-116
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual..................................3-105
Radio Reception........................................3-117
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-114
Setting the Clock.........................................3-76
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-116
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-118
1

Entry Lighting.................................................3-19
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Exit Lighting...................................................3-19
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-50
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finish Damage.............................................5-116
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-89
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-90
Flat Tire, Storing...........................................5-105
Fluid
Automatic Transmission........................5-24, 5-27
Power Steering...........................................5-42
Windshield Washer......................................5-43
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-17
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-48
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-36, 5-55
Front Axle......................................................5-56
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8Fuel (cont.)
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-13
Filling the Tank...........................................5-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage .........................................................3-49
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-50
Running Out of...........................................2-46
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-121
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-119
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-120
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-122
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-119
GGage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-43
Fuel..........................................................3-49
Oil Pressure...............................................3-47
Speedometer..............................................3-36
Tachometer.................................................3-36
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-40
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-62
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-70
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-7
5