2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Owners Manual

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-9
Power Reclining Seatbacks
To recline a power seatback,
if equipped:
.Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
Heated Front Seats
{WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures. To
reduce the risk of burns, people
with such a condition should use
care when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of
time. Do not place anything on
the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
cover or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to
overheat. An overheated seat
heater may cause a burn or may
damage the seat.
If available, the controls are on the
driver and passenger doors.
I(Heated Seatback): Press to
heat the seatback only.
J(Heated Seat and Seatback):
Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
Press the control once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the control, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
The heated seats will be canceled
10 seconds after the ignition is
turned off.
Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats may turn on automatically
during a remote vehicle start. The
heated seats will be canceled when
the ignition is turned on. Press the
desired control to use the heated
seats after the vehicle is started.
The lights on the heated seat
controls do not turn on during a
remote start.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
3-10 Seats and Restraints
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
SeeRemote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑5 for more information.
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats
{WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures. See
the Warning under Heated Front
Seats on page 3‑9.
If available, the controls are on the
front doors, near the door handle.
{(Cooled Seat): Press to cool
the seat.
+(Heated Seatback): Press to
heat the seatback only.
z(Heated Seat and Seatback):
Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
One of these symbols appears on
the climate control display when this
feature is on.
Press the desired control once for
the highest setting. With each press
of the control, the seat will change
to the next lower setting, and then to
the off setting.
Indicator bars next to the symbol on
the climate control display show the
selected setting: three for high,
two for medium, and one for low.
The heated and cooled seats turn
off automatically when the ignition is
turned off. To use this feature after
restarting the vehicle, press the
desired control again.Rear Seats
The rear seatbacks can be
folded to provide more cargo space
and access to the midgate. See
Midgate
®on page 2‑10 for more
information on operation of the
midgate.
To fold the seatback:
1. Push the rear seat headrests all the way down.
2. Pull the loop in the crease wherethe seatback and seat cushion
meet to release the seat

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-11
cushion. Tilt the seat cushion
forward toward the front of the
vehicle.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
3. Fold the seatback forward until it is flat. If necessary, move the
front seats forward slightly to
allow the seatback to fold
completely. 4. Repeat the procedure for the
other seatback, if desired.
To return the seats to the normal
position, lift the seatback up and
fold the seat cushion down.
{WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could
be seriously injured. After raising
the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts
are properly routed and attached,
and are not twisted.
{WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always be sure to press the rear
of the seat cushion down. This
action locks the seatback in
place.
Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked. Raise the
headrest.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
3-12 Seats and Restraints
Safety Belts
This section of the manual
describes how to use safety belts
properly. It also describes some
things not to do with safety belts.
{WARNING
Do not let anyone ride where a
safety belt cannot be worn
properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing
safety belts, the injuries can be
much worse. You can hit things
inside the vehicle harder or be
ejected from the vehicle. You and
your passenger(s) can be
seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be,
if you are buckled up. Always
fasten your safety belt, and check
that your passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
{WARNING
People riding on the tailgate
(if equipped) can easily lose their
balance and fall even when the
vehicle is operated at low speeds.
Falling from a moving vehicle may
result in serious injuries or death.
{WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to ride
in a cargo area, inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or
killed. Do not allow people to ride
in any area of your vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and
safety belts. Be sure everyone in
your vehicle is in a seat and using
a safety belt properly.This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
See
Safety Belt Reminders on
page 5‑16 for additional information.
In most states and in all Canadian
provinces, the law requires wearing
safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a
crash. If you do have a crash, you
do not know if it will be a
serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some
crashes can be so serious that even
buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in
between. In many of them, people
who buckle up can survive and
sometimes walk away. Without
safety belts they could have been
badly hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety
belts in vehicles, the facts are clear.
In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-13
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything,
you go as fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose
it is just a seat on wheels.
Put someone on it.Get it up to speed. Then stop the
vehicle. The rider does not stop.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
3-14 Seats and Restraints
The person keeps going until
stopped by something. In a real
vehicle, it could be the windshield...or the instrument panel...or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as
the vehicle does. You get more time
to stop. You stop over more
distance, and your strongest bones
take the forces. That is why safety
belts make such good sense.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-15
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not. But
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so
you canunbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety
belt, even if you are
upside down. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear safety
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts —not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the
most protection. That is true not
only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other
collisions. Q: If I am a good driver, and
I never drive far from home,
why should I wear safety
belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver,
but if you are in a crash —even
one that is not your fault —you
and your passenger(s) can be
hurt. Being a good driver does
not protect you from things
beyond your control, such as
bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
40 km (25 miles) of home. And
the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than
65 km/h (40 mph).
Safety belts are for everyone.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
3-16 Seats and Restraints
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
Be aware that there are special
things to know about safety belts
and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and
infants. If a child will be riding in the
vehicle, seeOlder Children on
page 3‑46 orInfants and Young
Children on page 3‑48. Follow those
rules for everyone's protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up
can be thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing
safety belts. First, before you or your
passenger(s) wear a safety belt,
there is important information you
should know.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front of you.
The lap part of the belt should be
worn low and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash, this
applies force to the strong pelvic
bones and you would be less
likely to slide under the lap belt.If you slid under it, the belt would
apply force on your abdomen. This
could cause serious or even fatal
injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the
chest. These parts of the body are
best able to take belt restraining
forces.
The shoulder belt locks if there is a
sudden stop or crash.