Seats and Restraint System............................. 1-1
Head Restraints
......................................... 1-2
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
..............................................1-13
Safety Belts
.............................................1-15
Child Restraints
.......................................1-37
Airbag System
.........................................1-62
Restraint System Check
............................1-78
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-25
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-28
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-32
Mirrors
....................................................2-55
Object Detection Systems
..........................2-58
OnStar
®System
......................................2-66
Universal Home Remote System
................2-69
Storage Areas
.........................................2-76
Sunroof
..................................................2-93Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-29
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-46
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-76
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-40
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
Rear Axle
...............................................5-45
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-46
Front Axle
...............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-48
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-54
Tires
......................................................5-55
2009 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner ManualM
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_:Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v
Power Lumbar
On seats with power lumbar, the controls used to
operate this feature are located on the outboard side of
the seats.
To increase lumbar support, press and hold the
front of the control.
To decrease lumbar support, press and hold the
rear of the control.The vehicle may have additional features to adjust your
vehicle’s power seat:
To raise the height of the lumbar support, press
and hold the top of the control.
To lower the height of the lumbar support, press
and hold the bottom of the control.
Release the control when the lower seatback reaches
the desired level of lumbar support.
Your vehicle may have a memory function which allows
seat settings to be saved and recalled. SeeMemory
Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 1-8for more
information.
Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as
it may during long trips, so should the position of
your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.
1-6
The heated and cooled seats will be canceled after the
ignition is turned off. To use the heated and cooled
seat feature after the vehicle is started, you will need to
press the appropriate seat button again.
Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals
Your vehicle may have the memory package.
The controls for this
feature are located on the
driver’s door panel, and
are used to program
and recall memory settings
for the driver’s seat,
outside mirrors, and the
adjustable throttle and
brake pedal.To save seating positions in memory:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback
recliner and lumbar, both outside mirrors, and
the throttle and brake pedals to a comfortable
position.
SeeOutside Power Mirrors on page 2-56and
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-35
for more information.
Not all mirrors, adjustable throttles and brake
pedals, or power lumbar will have the ability to save
and recall their positions.
2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps sound to
indicate that the position has been stored.
A second seating, lumbar, mirror, and throttle and brake
pedal position can be programmed by repeating the
above steps and pressing button 2.
To recall the memory positions, the vehicle must be in
PARK (P). Press and release either button 1 or button 2
corresponding to the desired driving position. The
seat, outside mirrors, and adjustable throttle and brake
pedals will move to the position previously stored.
You will hear a single beep.
1-8
If you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter
your vehicle and the remote recall memory feature
is on, automatic seat, adjustable mirror, and adjustable
pedal movements will occur. See “MEMORY SEAT
RECALL” underDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 3-67for more information.
To stop recall movement of the memory function at any
time, press one of the power seat controls, memory
buttons, power mirror buttons, or adjustable pedal switch.
If something has blocked the driver’s seat and/or the
adjustable pedals while recalling a memory position, the
driver’s seat and/or the adjustable pedals recall may
stop working. If this happens, remove the obstruction
and press the appropriate control for the area that is not
responding for two seconds. Try recalling the memory
position again by pressing the appropriate memory
button. If the memory position is still not recalling, see
your dealer for service.Easy Exit Seat
The control for this feature is located on the driver’s
door panel between buttons 1 and 2.
With the vehicle in PARK (P), the driver’s seat exit
position can be recalled by pressing the exit button. You
will hear a single beep, and the driver’s seat will
move back.
If the easy exit seat feature is programmed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), automatic seat movement
will occur when the key is removed from the ignition.
See “EASY EXIT SEAT” underDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-67for
more information.
The memory seat and easy exit features can also be
programmed using the DIC.
For programming information, seeDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-67.
1-9
Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation...................................................2-5
Remote Vehicle Start......................................2-7
Doors and Locks............................................2-10
Door Locks..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks........................................2-10
Delayed Locking...........................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Midgate
®.....................................................2-13
Tailgate.......................................................2-23
Power Assist Steps.......................................2-24
Windows........................................................2-25
Power Windows............................................2-26
Sun Visors...................................................2-27
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-28
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-28
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer.............2-30
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation.................................................2-30Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-32
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-32
Ignition Positions..........................................2-32
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-34
Starting the Engine.......................................2-34
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-35
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-36
Active Fuel Management™.............................2-37
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-37
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-41
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-43
Parking Brake..............................................2-48
Shifting Into Park..........................................2-50
Shifting Out of Park......................................2-52
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-52
Engine Exhaust............................................2-53
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................2-54
Mirrors...........................................................2-55
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-55
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-55
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-56
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors.....................2-56
Park Tilt Mirrors............................................2-57
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-57
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-58
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
Outside Power Mirrors
Vehicles with outside
power mirrors have
controls located on the
driver door armrest.
To adjust each mirror:
1. Press (A) or (B) to select the driver or passenger
side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control
pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Adjust each outside mirror to see a little of the
vehicle, and the area behind your vehicle.
4. Press either (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To
fold, push the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror
outward, to return to its original position.
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
Vehicles with outside
power foldaway mirrors
have controls located
on the driver door armrest.
Mirror Adjustment
1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out to the driving
position.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors in to the folded
position.
2-56
Resetting the Power Foldaway Mirrors
Reset the power foldaway mirrors if:
The mirrors are accidentally obstructed while
folding.
They are accidentally manually folded/unfolded.
The mirrors will not stay in the unfolded position.
The mirrors vibrate at normal driving speeds.
To reset the power foldaway mirrors, fold and unfold
them one time using the mirror controls. This will reset
them to their normal position.
Automatic Dimming
The driver outside mirror adjusts for the glare of the
headlamps behind you. SeeAutomatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2-55for more information.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may also have a turn signal indicator on the
mirror. An arrow on the mirror ashes in the direction
of the turn or lane change.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory package, the passenger
and/or driver mirror tilts to a preselected position
when the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This feature lets
the driver view the curb when parallel parking. The
mirror(s) return to the original position when the vehicle
is shifted out of R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned
off or to OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With
DIC Buttons) on page 3-67for more information.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are. If
you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could hit
a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
2-57