2010 CHEVROLET TAHOE Owners Manual

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around the vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing the vehicle and the
airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering Information
on
page 8‑16.
{WARNING:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off
and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still
inflate during improper service. You can be injured
if you are close to an airbag when it inflates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to or change about the vehicle that could keep the airbags from
working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts of
the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, side
impact sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbag
wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system.
2-99

In addition, the vehicle may have a passenger
sensing system for the right front passenger's
position, which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger's seat. The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the original seat trim is
replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim,
or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket
seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the passenger
sensing system. This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent
the passenger sensing system from properly turning
off the passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 2‑93.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8‑2.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags, see
Different Size Tires and Wheels
on page 6‑82for
additional important information. Q: What if I added a snow plow? Will it keep the
airbags from working properly?
A: We have designed our airbag systems to work
properly under a wide range of conditions, including
snow plowing with vehicles that have the optional
Snow Plow Prep Package (RPO VYU). But do
not change or defeat the snow plow's “tripping
mechanism.” If you do, it can damage your snow
plow and your vehicle, and it may cause an airbag
inflation.
Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modified. How can I find out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A: If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8‑2.
In addition, your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
2-100

Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Safety Belts
Now and then, check that the safety belt reminder light,
safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job. See your dealer to have it repaired. Torn or frayed
safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip
apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get
a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders
on page 4‑31for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety
Belts
on page 6‑111.
Airbags
The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled
maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. See Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑32for more information.
Notice: If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
or broken, the airbag may not work properly. Do not
open or break the airbag coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag covers, have the airbag
covering and/or airbag module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an
Airbag Inflate?
on page 2‑90. See your dealer for
service.
2-101

Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{WARNING:
A crash can damage the restraint systems in your
vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not
properly protect the person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a crash. To help
make sure your restraint systems are working
properly after a crash, have them inspected and
any necessary replacements made as soon as
possible.
If the vehicle has been in a crash, do you need new
safety belts or LATCH system (if equipped) parts? After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary. But
the safety belt assemblies that were used during any
crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your
dealer to have the safety belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being
used during a crash, you may need new LATCH system
parts.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the
safety belt or LATCH system (if equipped), was not
being used at the time of the crash.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.
Have the safety belt pretensioners checked if the
vehicle has been in a crash, if the airbag readiness light
stays on after the vehicle is started, or while you are
driving. See
Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑32.
2-102

Section 3 Features and Controls
Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Doors and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Liftgate/Liftglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Power Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Content Theft-Deterrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . 3-24
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Active Fuel Management™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Automatic Transmission Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Four-Wheel Drive (Two Speed Automatic Transfer Case) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Four-Wheel Drive (Single Speed Automatic Transfer Case) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-44
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Shifting Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-50
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
Outside Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
3-1

Section 3 Features and Controls
Outside Towing Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
Outside Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
Outside Convex Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
Outside Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
Object Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) . . . . . . . . 3-56
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-58
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-61 Universal Home Remote System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-66
Universal Home Remote System Operation (With Three Round LED) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-66
Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-73
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-74
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-74
Rear Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-76
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-77
3-2

Keys
{WARNING:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key
is dangerous for many reasons, children or others
could be badly injured or even killed. They could
operate the power windows or other controls or
even make the vehicle move. The windows will
function with the keys in the ignition and children
could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the
path of a closing window. Do not leave the keys in
a vehicle with children.
The key is used for the ignition and all door locks.
The key has a bar-coded key tag that the dealer or
qualified locksmith can use to make new keys. Store
this information in a safe place, not in the vehicle.
3-3

See your dealer if a replacement key or additional key
is needed.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in the vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If you are locked out of the vehicle, call the Roadside
Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 8‑7.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
SeeRadio Frequency Statementon page 8‑19for information regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and
RSS-210/211 of Industry Canada.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment. If there is a decrease in the RKE operating range,
try this:
.Check the distance. The transmitter may be too
far from the vehicle. Stand closer during rainy or
snowy weather.
.Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left
or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
.Check the transmitter's battery. See
“Battery
Replacement” later in this section.
.If the transmitter is still not working correctly, see
your dealer or a qualified technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter functions
work up to 195 feet (60 m) away from the vehicle.
There are other conditions which can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 3‑4.
3-4