
Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
6-8 Lighting
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all the
power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on,
such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY LOW
START VEHICLE . If this message
displays, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as
much as possible and restart the
vehicle. See
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages on page 5‑37.Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome
lamps if they are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. This helps to prevent
the battery from running down.

Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-67
When the System Does Not
Seem To Work Properly
The rear vision camera system
might not work properly or display a
clear image if:
.The RVC is turned off.
See“Turning the Rear Camera
System On or Off” earlier in
this section.
.It is dark.
.The sun or the beam of
headlights is shining directly into
the camera lens.
.Ice, snow, mud, or anything else
builds up on the camera lens.
Clean the lens, rinse it with
water, and wipe it with a
soft cloth.
.The back of the vehicle is in
an accident, the position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have the
camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at
your dealer. The rear vision camera system
display in the rearview mirror may
turn off or not appear as expected
due to one of the following
conditions. If this occurs the
left indicator light on the mirror
will flash.
.A slow flash may indicate a loss
of video signal, or no video
signal present during the reverse
cycle.
.A fast flash may indicate that the
display has been on for the
maximum allowable time during
a reverse cycle, or the display
has reached an Over
Temperature limit.
The fast flash conditions are
used to protect the video device
from high temperature
conditions. Once conditions
return to normal the device will
reset and the green indicator will
stop flashing.
During any of these fault conditions,
the display will be blank and the
indicator will continue to flash as
long as the vehicle is in R (Reverse)
or until the conditions return to
normal.
Pressing and holding
zwhen the
left indicator light is flashing will turn
off the video display along with the
left indicator light.

Black plate (85,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-85
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lbs) needs to
have its own brake system that is
adequate for the weight of the
trailer. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted and
maintained properly.
Since the vehicle is equipped with
StabiliTrak, the trailer brakes cannot
tap into the vehicle's hydraulic
system.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness
Package
The vehicle has a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer
connector attached to the rear
bumper beam next to the integrated
trailer hitch.
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/
Turn Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed*
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuses for these two circuits are
installed in the underhood electrical
center, but the wires are not
connected. They should be
connected by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the tow/haul mode
button located at the end of the shift
lever. This will boost the vehicle
system voltage and properly charge
the battery. If the trailer is too light
for tow/haul mode, turn on the
headlamps as a second way to
boost the vehicle system and
charge the battery.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
10-36 Vehicle Care
Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps.
The high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.
To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10‑5
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low‐beam headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp.
4. At a wall, measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the mark
in Step 4. Notice:
Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece of
cardboard or equivalent in front
of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-37
7. Locate the vertical headlampaiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
The adjustment screw can be
turned with an E8 Torx
®socket.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape line.
Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.
9. Make sure that the light from theheadlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on
page 10‑39.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-43
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.Fuses Usage
1 Right Trailer Stop/
Turn Lamp
2 Electronic Stability
Suspension
Control, Automatic
Level Control
Exhaust
3 Left Trailer Stop/
Turn Lamp
4 Engine Controls
5 Engine Control
Module, Throttle
Control
6 Trailer Brake
Controller
7 Front Washer
8 Oxygen Sensors
9 Antilock Brakes
System 2 Fuses Usage
10 Trailer Back-up
Lamps
11 Driver Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
12 Engine Control
Module (Battery)
13 Fuel Injectors,
Ignition Coils
(Right Side)
14 Transmission
Control Module
(Battery)
15 Vehicle Back-up
Lamps
16 Passenger Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
17 Air Conditioning
Compressor
18 Oxygen Sensors Fuses Usage
19 Transmission
Controls (Ignition)
20 Fuel Pump
21 Fuel System
Control Module
22 Headlamp Washer
23 Rear Windshield
Washer
24 Fuel Injectors,
Ignition Coils
(Left Side)
25 Trailer Park Lamps
26 Driver Side Park
Lamps
27 Passenger Side
Park Lamps
28 Fog Lamps
29 Horn

Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-45
J-CaseFuses Usage
57 Cooling Fan 1
58 Automatic Level
Control
Compressor
59 Heavy Duty
Antilock Brake
System
60 Cooling Fan 2
61 Antilock Brake
System 1
62 Starter
63 Stud 2
(Trailer Brakes)
64 Left Bussed
Electrical Center 1 J-Case
Fuses Usage
65 Electric Running
Boards
66 Heated Windshield
Washer System
67 Transfer Case
68 Stud 1
(Trailer Connector
Battery Power)
69 Mid-Bussed
Electrical Center 1
70 Climate Control
Blower
71 Power Liftgate
Module
72 Left Bussed
Electrical Center 2 Relays Usage
FAN HI Cooling Fan High
Speed
FAN LO Cooling Fan Low
Speed
FAN CNTRL Cooling Fan
Control
HDLP
LO/HID Low-Beam
Headlamp
FOG LAMP Front Fog Lamps
A/C
CMPRSR Air Conditioning
Compressor
STRTR Starter
PWR/TRN Powertrain
FUEL PMP Fuel Pump
PRK LAMP Parking Lamps
REAR
DEFOG Rear Defogger
RUN/CRNK Switched Power

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
i-6 INDEX
Fuel EconomyDriving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Fuses Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-56Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-56
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Gauges Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12 Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-74
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-5
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-3
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Heating and Air Conditioning . . . 8-1
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-19
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii, 7-2