
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 (86,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
9-86 Driving and Operating
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. These
provisions are for an electric brake
controller. The instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires near the
data link connector for the trailer
brake controller. The harness
contains the following wires:
.Dark Blue: Brake Signal to
Trailer Connector
.Red/Black: Battery
.Light Blue/White: Brake Switch
.White: Ground
It should be installed by your dealer
or a qualified service center.
If the vehicle is equipped with an
ITBC, the blunt cuts exist, but are
not connected further in the
harness. If an aftermarket trailer
brake controller is installed, the
ITBC must be disconnected. Do not power both ITBC and
aftermarket controllers to control the
trailer brakes at the same time.
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
tow/haul mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when the
tow/haul mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑43 for more
information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” inTrailer
Towing on page 9‑79. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in stop and
go traffic.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-16
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-22 Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-25
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-33
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-34
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-35
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 10-38
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-39
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
10-38 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Stoplamp/Turn Signal/Taillamp
B. Back-up Lamp
C. Stoplamp/Turn Signal/Taillamp
D. Sidemarker LampTo replace one of these bulbs, do
the following:
1. Open the tailgate. See
Tailgate
on page 2‑16 for more
information.
2. Remove the two screws from the taillamp assembly.
3. Pull the taillamp assembly rearward until you disengage the
outer pins on the taillamp
assembly from the vehicle. 4. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp assembly.
5. Pull the old bulb straight out from the bulb socket.
6. Press a new bulb into the bulb socket and insert the bulb socket
into the taillamp assembly. Turn
the bulb socket clockwise into
the taillamp assembly until it
clicks.
7. Reinstall the taillamp assembly making sure to line up the pins
with the vehicle.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-39
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Reach under the rear bumper forthe bulb socket.
2. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull the
bulb socket out of the lamp
assembly. 3. Pull the bulb straight out of
the socket.
4. Install the new bulb.
5. Reverse Steps 1 and 2 to reinstall the bulb socket.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-up Lamp 7441
License
Plate Lamp 168LL
(W5WLL)
Rear Turn Signal
Lamp, Taillamp,
and Stoplamp 3057K
Sidemarker Lamp 194LL
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
10-46 Vehicle Care
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block
access door is located on the driver
side edge of the instrument panel.
Pull off the cover to access the
fuse block.
The vehicle may not be equipped with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.Fuses Usage
1 Rear Seats
2 Rear Accessory
Power Outlet
3 Steering Wheel
Controls Backlight Fuses Usage
4 Driver Door Module
5 Dome Lamps, Driver
Side Turn Signal
6 Driver Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp

Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-47
FusesUsage
7 Instrument Panel
Back Lighting
8 Passenger Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp
9 Passenger Door
Module, Driver Unlock
10 Power Door Lock 2
(Unlock Feature)
11 Power Door Lock 2
(Lock Feature)
12 Stoplamps, Center
High‐
Mounted
Stoplamp
13 Rear Climate Controls
14 Power Mirror
15 Body Control
Module (BCM)
16 Accessory Power
Outlets
17 Interior Lamps Fuses
Usage
18 Power Door Lock 1
(Unlock Feature)
19 Rear Seat
Entertainment
20 Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist,
Power Liftgate
21 Power Door Lock 1
(Lock Feature)
22 Driver Information
Center (DIC)
23 Rear Wiper
24 Cooled Seats
25 Driver Seat Module,
Remote Keyless
Entry System
26 Driver Power Door
Lock (Unlock Feature) Circuit
Breaker Usage
LT DR Driver Side Power
Window Circuit
Breaker
Harness
Connector Usage
LT DR Driver Door
Harness
Connection
BODY Harness Connector
BODY Harness Connector

Black plate (63,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-63
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning it
cannot detect or signal a low tire
condition. See your dealer for
service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message come on
and stay on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. Any time you
rotate your vehicle's tires or replace
one or more of the TPMS sensors,
the identification codes will need to
be matched to the new tire/wheel
position. The sensors are matched
to the tire/wheel positions in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear
tire using a TPMS diagnostic tool.
See your dealer for service. The TPMS sensors can also be
matched to each tire/wheel position
by increasing or decreasing the
tire's air pressure. If increasing the
tire's air pressure, do not exceed
the maximum inflation pressure
indicated on the tire's sidewall.
To decrease air pressure out of a
tire you can use the pointed end of
the valve cap, a pencil-style air
pressure gauge, or a key.
You have two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer than two minutes to match
the first tire and wheel, or more than
five minutes to match all four tire
and wheel positions, the matching
process stops and you need to
start over.
The TPMS sensor matching process
is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to
ON/RUN with the engine off. 3. Press the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter's lock
and unlock buttons at the
same time for approximately
five seconds. The horn sounds
twice to signal the receiver is in
relearn mode and the TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
4. Start with the driver side front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the valve cap stem. Activate the
TPMS sensor by increasing or
decreasing the tire's air pressure
for five seconds, or until a horn
chirp sounds. The horn chirp,
which may take up to
30 seconds to sound, confirms
that the sensor identification
code has been matched to this
tire and wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.