2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN ABS

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain begins
to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid driving on wet
ice or in freezing rain until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.TheStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6improves the
ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but slow down and
adjust your driving to the road conditions. When driving
through deep snow, turn off the traction control part of the
StabiliTrak
®System to help maintain vehicle motion at
lower speeds.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
4-29

Autoride®
With this feature, improved vehicle ride and handling is
provided under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel to
body position, lift/dive and steering position of the vehicle.
The controller then sends signals to each shock absorber
to independently adjust the damping level to provide the
optimum vehicle ride.
Autoride also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide additional control of the
shock absorbers. This additional control results in better
ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-50for more information.
Towing a Trailer
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeNew Vehicle
Break-In on page 2-26for more information.
{CAUTION:
The driver can lose control when pulling a trailer if
the correct equipment is not used or the vehicle is
not driven properly. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well — or even at
all. The driver and passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only if all the steps
in this section have been followed. Ask your
dealer/retailer for advice and information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
4-50

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
Parking the vehicle on a hill with the trailer
attached can be dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move. People can be
injured, and both the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always park the rig on a
at surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park)
yet. Turn the wheels into the curb if facing downhill
or into traffic if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking
brake and shift into P (Park).5. If the vehicle is four-wheel-drive, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear and not in
N (Neutral).
6. Release the brake pedal.{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
If the engine has been left running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake rmly set.
If the transfer case on a four-wheel-drive vehicle is
in N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even
if the shift lever is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear — not in N (Neutral).
4-69

Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only be used
on oor carpet and carpeted oor mats. For any soil,
always try to remove it rst with plain water or club soda.
Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil as
possible using one of the following techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a paper
towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the paper towel
until no more can be removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible and
then vacuum.
To clean:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water or
club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub
toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the
cleaning cloth remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild
soap solution and repeat the cleaning process
that was used with plain water.If any of the soil remains, a commercial fabric cleaner
or spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test a small
hidden area for colorfastness rst. If the locally cleaned
area gives any impression that a ring formation may
result, clean the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet.
Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water can be used to remove
dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary, a soft
cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can be used.
Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not use heat to dry.
Never use steam to clean leather. Never use spot lifters
or spot removers on leather. Many commercial leather
cleaners and coatings that are sold to preserve and
protect leather may permanently change the appearance
and feel of the leather and are not recommended. Do not
use silicone or wax-based products, or those containing
organic solvents to clean the vehicle’s interior because
they can alter the appearance by increasing the gloss in a
non-uniform manner. Never use shoe polish on leather.
5-108

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power............................................2-28
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Active Fuel Management™...............................2-31
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-39
Additional Required Services, Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-6
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-114
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-30
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning..............................................3-22
Airbag
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-96
Airbag System
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-88
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-90
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-96
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-87
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-88
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-86
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-83Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-38
Readiness Light..........................................3-37
System Check.............................................1-81
Antenna
Rear Side Window.....................................3-140
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-140
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Warning Light.............................................3-41
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-112
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-109
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-113
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-110
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-108
Finish Care...............................................5-110
Finish Damage
..........................................5-113
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-109
Interior Cleaning........................................5-106
Leather....................................................5-108
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-113
Tires........................................................5-112
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-113
1

L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-62
Lamps
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp........................3-18
Daytime Running (DRL)................................3-16
Dome ........................................................3-18
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-19
License Plate..............................................5-58
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-43
Reading.....................................................3-19
Lap Belt ........................................................1-52
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-45
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-65
Level Control..................................................4-49
Liftgate, Power...............................................2-15
Liftgate/Liftglass..............................................2-13
Liftglass/Liftgate..............................................2-13
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-19
Exit ...........................................................3-19
Lights
Airbag Readiness........................................3-37
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-41
Brake System Warning.................................3-40
Charging System.........................................3-39
Cruise Control.............................................3-49
Exterior Lamps............................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8Lights (cont.)
Fog Lamps .................................................3-49
Highbeam On.............................................3-49
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-51
Oil Pressure...............................................3-48
On Reminder..............................................3-15
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-38
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-36
Security.....................................................3-48
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-42
Tire Pressure..............................................3-43
Tow/Haul Mode ...........................................3-49
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-33
Locking Rear Axle............................................ 4-9
Locks
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Door ..........................................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-12
Power Door................................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-11
Loss of Control...............................................4-11
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-51
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.............1-65
Luggage Carrier..............................................2-79
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-6
Power Controls............................................. 1-6
8