2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE ABS

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when the
three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not
have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care
suited to existing conditions, and by
not overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle’s three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the steering
or cornering skid, too much speed
or steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, the vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving
to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear.
Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. You might not
realize the surface is slippery until
the vehicle is skidding. Learn torecognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than
day driving because some drivers
are likely to be impaired — by alcohol
or drugs, with night vision problems,
or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by
adjusting the inside rearview
mirror.
Slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles
because headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
4-10 Driving Your Vehicle

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 4-5improves 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 4-4improves 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.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6.
To get help and keep everyone
in the vehicle safe:
Turn on theHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-5.
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
4-14 Driving Your Vehicle

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 brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and shift
the transmission into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal
while you:
start the 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
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-3
for more information. Things that
are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
uid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The vehicle is equipped with the
following wiring harness for towing
a trailer.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-33

14. Replace the air only hose (G)
and the power plug (H) and
cord back in its original location.
15. Place the equipment in the
original storage location in the
vehicle.
The tire sealant and compressor kit
has an accessory adapter located
in a compartment on the bottom
of its housing that may be used to
inate air mattresses, balls, etc.Removal and Installation of
the Sealant Canister
To remove the sealant canister:
1. Unwrap the sealant hose.
2. Press the canister release button.
3. Pull up and remove the canister.
4. Replace with a new canister
which is available from your
dealer/retailer.
5. Push the new canister into place.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit Storage
The tire sealant and compressor
kit is located in the storage
compartment on the driver side,
at the rear of the vehicle.1. Press down on the latch tab and
pull the cover off to access the
storage compartment.
2. Press the two tabs on the quick
release buckle to release the tire
sealant and compressor kit strap.
3. Remove the sealant and
compressor kit from its tray.
To store the tire sealant and
compressor kit, reverse the steps.
5-64 Service and Appearance Care

Do not clean the vehicle using:
A knife or any other sharp object
to remove a soil from any interior
surface.
A stiff brush. It can cause damage
to the vehicle’s interior surfaces.
Heavy pressure or aggressive
rubbing with a cleaning cloth. Use
of heavy pressure can damage
the interior and does not improve
the effectiveness of soil removal.
Laundry detergents or
dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue
that streaks and attracts dirt. For
liquid cleaners, about 20 drops
per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a
good guide. Use only mild,
neutral-pH soaps.
Too much cleaner that saturates
the upholstery.
Organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc. that can damage the
vehicle’s interior.
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.
Service and Appearance Care 5-79

FusesUsage
A/C
CLUTCH Air Conditioning
Clutch
ABS MTR Antilock Braking
System (ABS) Motor
AFS Adaptive Forward
Lighting SystemFuses
Usage
AIRBAG Airbag System AUX
POWER Auxiliary Power
AUX VAC PUMP Auxiliary
Vacuum Pump
Fuses
Usage
AWD All-Wheel-Drive
System
BATT 1 Battery 1
BATT 2 Battery 2
BATT 3 Battery 3
ECM Engine Control
Module
ECM 1 Engine Control
Module 1
EMISSION 1 Emission 1
EMISSION 2 Emission 2 EVEN
COILS Even Injector Coils
FAN 1 Cooling Fan 1
FAN 2 Cooling Fan 2
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
Service and Appearance Care 5-89

A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 5-3
Accessory Power.................2-22
Accessory Power Outlets......3-17
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....1-58
Additional Required Services,
Scheduled Maintenance....... 6-6
Additives, Fuel...................... 5-5
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................5-86
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.......5-15
Air Conditioning...................3-19
Airbag
Readiness Light................3-33
Airbag System.....................1-46
Adding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-58
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-51
Passenger Sensing
System........................1-53
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-57Airbag System (cont.)
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-51
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inates?........1-51
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-49
Where Are the Airbags?.....1-48
Airbags
Passenger Status
Indicator.......................3-33
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD)
System............................. 4-7
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 4-4
Warning Light...................3-37
Appearance Care
Aluminum or
Chrome-Plated Wheels . . . 5-83
Care of Safety Belts..........5-80
Chemical Paint Spotting.....5-84
Cleaning Exterior
Lamps/Lenses...............5-81
Fabric/Carpet...................5-79
Finish Care......................5-81
Finish Damage.................5-84
Instrument Panel, Vinyl,
and Other Plastic
Surfaces......................5-80Appearance Care (cont.)
Interior Cleaning...............5-78
Leather...........................5-80
Sheet Metal Damage........5-84
Tires...............................5-83
Underbody Maintenance....5-84
Washing Your Vehicle........5-81
Weatherstrips...................5-81
Windshield, Backglass,
and Wiper Blades..........5-82
Assistance Program,
Roadside.......................... 7-6
Audio System......................3-73
Audio Steering Wheel
Controls.....................3-125
Navigation/Radio
System, see
Navigation Manual.......3-103
Setting the Clock..............3-74
Audio System(s)..................3-75
Audio Systems
Radio Reception.............3-126
Rear Seat (RSA).............3-123
Theft-Deterrent Feature....3-125
Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................5-16
Operation........................2-24
INDEX i-1

Hood
Checking Things Under....... 5-9
Release............................ 5-9
Horn .................................... 3-5
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly..........................1-17
I
Ignition Positions..................2-21
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints........................1-29
Ination - Tire Pressure.........5-42
Instrument Panel
Brightness.......................3-13
Cluster............................3-31
Overview........................... 3-4
Storage Area....................2-52
Introduction........................... 6-1
J
Jump Starting......................5-29
K
Keyless Entry, Remote
Operation.......................... 2-4
Keyless Entry System............ 2-3
Keys.................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall..........5-37
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator.........3-39
Lamps
Courtesy.........................3-14
Dome .............................3-14
Dome Lamp Override........3-14
Reading..........................3-15
Lap-Shoulder Belt................1-22
LATCH System for Child
Restraints........................1-35
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide.............2-10
Liftgate, Power....................2-11
Lighting
Delayed Entry..................3-15
Delayed Exit....................3-15
Entry..............................3-14
Parade Dimming...............3-15Lights
Airbag Readiness.............3-33
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning..............3-37
Brake System Warning......3-36
Charging System..............3-34
Cruise Control..................3-43
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning.....3-38
Exterior Lamps.................3-11
Flash-to-Pass..................... 3-7
Highbeam On...................3-43
High/Low Beam Changer..... 3-7
Oil Pressure.....................3-42
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator.......................3-33
Safety Belt Reminders.......3-32
Security...........................3-43
StabiliTrak
®Indicator.........3-37
Tire Pressure...................3-39
Tow/Haul Mode................3-43
Loading Your Vehicle............4-16
Locks
Delayed Locking................. 2-8
Door ................................. 2-8
Lockout Protection.............. 2-9
i-6 INDEX