2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE trailer

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
In Brief 1-3
Fuel Economy Gauge
United States
CanadaThis gauge shows when the vehicle
is operating at a fuel efficient point.
By modifying driving behavior to
increase the economy time during
driving, fuel mileage will be
improved.
See
Fuel Economy Gauge on
page 5‑6.
Automatic Engine Start/
Stop Feature
Start the engine as you would any
other engine. See “Starting the
Engine” in the owner manual for
more information on starting. The
hybrid system provides very quiet
engine starting. If pulling a trailer
with trailer brakes, see Trailer
Towing on page 9‑16 for more
information.
Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop
feature. After a successful engine
start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake
pedal until you are ready for the
vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP
modes are indicated on the
tachometer display. When the
tachometer needle indicates OFF,
the engine is not running and will
remain off until the ignition key is
placed in the START position or a
remote vehicle start is performed.
When the tachometer needle
indicates AUTO STOP, the hybrid
system is on, the engine is not
running, but may Auto Start at any
time without notice. See Tachometer
on page 5‑4 for more information.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-13
System Warning Light,”and“ABS
Brake System Warning Light” in the
owner manual.
This message may also come on
when you are towing a trailer. See
“Trailer Brakes” underTrailer Towing
on page 9‑16 for more information.
Door Ajar Messages
HOOD OPEN
If the hood is not fully closed or
there is a problem with the hood
switch, this message will be
displayed. Close the hood to clear
the message. If the HOOD OPEN
message continues to be displayed
after verifying the hood is closed,
you should have the hood switch
serviced. Failure to service the hood
switch properly can result in an Auto
Start condition.
Auto Stops will be disabled when
this message is displayed. If the
vehicle is in auto stop mode when
this message appears, the engine
will instantly start.
Engine Oil Messages
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP
ENGINE
If engine oil pressure is low, this
message will be displayed on the
DIC. Stop the vehicle as soon as
safely possible and do not operate it
until the cause of the low oil
pressure has been corrected. Check
your oil level as soon as possible
and have your vehicle serviced. See
“Engine Oil”in the owner manual.
Service Vehicle Messages
SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM
If this message is displayed on the
DIC, the vehicle may continue to
operate, but you need to have it
serviced as soon as possible.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
This message displays if a problem
has been detected with the electric
power steering. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer immediately.
Transmission Messages
SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
This message may display if a
problem occurs with the
four-wheel-drive system. If this
message appears, stop as soon as
possible and turn off the vehicle.
Make sure the key is in the LOCK/
OFF position for at least one minute
and then restart the vehicle and
check for the message on the DIC
display. If the message is still
displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the
four-wheel-drive system needs
service. See your dealer.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Starting and Operating
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . 9-4
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Engine Exhaust
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 9-7
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Brakes
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-15
Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Driving Information
Steering
This vehicle has On-Demand
Electric-Assist Power Steering
instead of conventional full-time
hydraulic power steering. It uses
electricity supplied by the same
battery which is re-charged by the
regenerative braking system.
Because the system is On-Demand
Electric-Assist, energy is used only
when the steering wheel is turned,
or when the steering gear is used to
help isolate the forces of rough
roads. This system does not use
power steering fluid, making it
maintenance-free.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-2 Driving and Operating
Starting and
Operating
Starting the Vehicle
{WARNING
Exiting the vehicle, without first
shifting into P (Park), may cause
the vehicle to move, and you or
others can be seriously injured.
Because the vehicle has the
Automatic Engine Start/Stop
feature, the vehicle’s engine
might seem to be shut off when
you come to a complete stop.
However, once the brake pedal is
released, the vehicle can move.
The vehicle’s engine can also
restart at any time.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before
exiting the vehicle.Start the engine as you would any
other engine. See
“Starting the
Engine” in the owner manual for
more information on starting.
If pulling a trailer with trailer brakes,
see Towing Equipment on
page 9‑17 for more information.Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop
feature. After a successful engine
start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode.
Some of the vehicle conditions that
allow the engine to stop running and
enter the Auto Stop mode are:
.Ignition switch is in the ON/RUN
position.
.The hood is closed.
.The gear selector is in P (Park),
R (Reverse), N (Neutral) or
D (Drive).
.The hybrid battery is at an
acceptable state of charge.
.The hybrid battery voltage,
temperature or power limits are
not exceeded. In very hot
conditions, Auto Stop may be
unavailable until the hybrid
battery has cooled.
.The engine is at operating
temperature.
.The vehicle may enter Auto Stop
after a remote vehicle start.
With your foot off the brake and the
vehicle on level ground, the hybrid
drive motor may cause the vehicle
to roll slowly forward, even when the
engine is in Auto Stop.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake
pedal until you are ready for the
vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP
modes are indicated on the
tachometer display. When the
tachometer needle indicates OFF,
the engine is not running and will
remain off until the ignition key is
placed in the START position or a
remote vehicle start is performed.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
WARNING (Continued)
gear—not in N (Neutral). If you
are pulling a trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips”
in the owner manual.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See “Parking Brake” in the
owner manual.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case (if equipped) is in a drive
gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear —not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If parking on a hill and the
transmission not shifted into
P (Park) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much
force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver
seat. To find out how, see
Shifting
Into Park on page 9‑4.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, then you will be
able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).Engine Exhaust
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING
Exiting the vehicle, without first
shifting into P (Park), may cause
the vehicle to move, and you or
others can be seriously injured.
Because the vehicle has the
Automatic Engine Start/Stop
feature, the vehicle’s engine
might seem to be shut off when
you come to a complete stop.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
However, once the brake pedal is
released, the vehicle can move.
The vehicle’s engine can also
restart at any time.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before
exiting the vehicle.
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑4.
If pulling a trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips” in
the owner manual.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Automatic
Transmission
The vehicle has an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
See“Range Selection Mode” in this
section.
P (Park): This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position to
use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily. When parked on a hill, especially
when the vehicle has a heavy load,
you may notice an increase in the
effort to shift out of P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑4.
{WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See
Shifting Into Park on
page 9‑4. If you are pulling a
trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips”
in the owner manual.
{WARNING
If you have Four-Wheel Drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll —even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in Neutral. So,
be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive High
or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
Neutral. See Shifting Into Park
on page 9‑4.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali Hybrid - 2011
9-8 Driving and Operating
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see “If
the Vehicle is Stuck” in the owner
manual.
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine and transmission are not
connected with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle. D (Drive):
This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
D (Drive) or M (Manual Mode) can
be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on
steep hills, or for off-road driving.
You may want to shift the
transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts
too often.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Loss of Control” in
the owner manual.
When temperatures are very cold,
the transmission's gear shifting may
be delayed, providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up.