Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction iii
The names, logos, emblems,
slogans, vehicle model names, and
vehicle body designs appearing in
this manual including, but not limited
to, GM, the GM logo, CHEVROLET,
the CHEVROLET Emblem,
AVALANCHE, and Z71 are
trademarks and/or service marks
of General Motors LLC, its
subsidiaries, affiliates, or licensors.
This manual describes features that
may or may not be on your specific
vehicle either because they are
options that you did not purchase or
due to changes subsequent to the
printing of this owner manual.Please refer to the purchase
documentation relating to your
specific vehicle to confirm each of
the features found on your vehicle.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
substitute the name
“General
Motors of Canada Limited” for
Chevrolet Motor Division wherever
it appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for
quick reference.
Canadian Vehicle Owners
Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language copy of this
manual can be obtained from your
dealer or from:
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de
ce guide en français auprès du
concessionnaire ou à l'adresse
suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
Numéro de poste 6438 de
langue française
www.helminc.com
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 20902915 A First Printing©2011 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-23
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at the
bottom of the instrument panel
cluster. It shows the status of
many vehicle systems and enables
access to the personalization menu.
The DIC buttons are located on the
instrument panel, next to the
steering wheel.
Some vehicles do not have the
buttons shown, however some of
the menus can be viewed by using
the trip odometer reset stem.
3:Press to display the
odometer, trip odometer, fuel range,
average economy, fuel used, timer,
instantaneous economy and Active
Fuel Management™ indicator,
and transmission temperature.
The compass and outside air
temperature will also be shown in
the display. The temperature will be
shown in °C or °F depending on the
units selected.
T: Press to display the oil life,
units, tire pressure readings for
vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), trailer
brake gain and output information
for vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
engine hours, compass zone
setting, and compass recalibration.
U: Press to customize the feature
settings on your vehicle. See
Vehicle Personalization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑45 for more
information.
V: Press to set or reset certain
functions and to turn off or
acknowledge messages on the DIC.
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑26.
Vehicle Customization
Some vehicle features can be
programmed by using the DIC
buttons next to the steering wheel.
These features include:
.Language
.Door Lock and Unlock Settings
.RKE Lock and Unlock Feedback
.Lighting
.Chime Volume
.Memory Features
See Vehicle Personalization (With
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑45.
Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
5-32 Instruments and Controls
Compass Recalibration
This display allows for calibrating
the compass. SeeCompass on
page 5‑6.
Blank Display
This display shows no information.
Trip Odometer Reset Stem
Menu Items (with DIC Buttons)
Use the trip odometer reset
stem to view the odometer and trip
odometer. The Language selection
and Engine Hours display can also
be accessed with the trip odometer
reset stem.
Odometer
Press the trip odometer reset stem
until ODOMETER displays. This
display shows the distance the
vehicle has been driven in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi). Trip Odometer
Press the trip odometer reset
stem until TRIP displays. This
display shows the current distance
traveled in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi) since the last reset for the
trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing and holding the trip
odometer reset stem while the trip
odometer is displayed.
The trip odometer has a feature
called the retro-active reset. This
can be used to set the trip odometer
to the number of kilometers (miles)
driven since the ignition was last
turned on. This can be used if the
trip odometer is not reset at the
beginning of the trip.
To use the retro-active reset feature,
press and hold the trip odometer
reset stem for at least four seconds.The trip odometer will display the
number of kilometers (km) or
miles (mi) driven since the ignition
was last turned on and the vehicle
was moving. Once the vehicle
begins moving, the trip odometer
will accumulate mileage. For
example, if the vehicle was driven
8 km (5 miles) before it is started
again, and then the retro-active
reset feature is activated, the
display will show 8 km (5 miles).
As the vehicle begins moving, the
display will then increase to 8.2 km
(5.1 miles), 8.4 km (5.2 miles), etc.
Language
This display allows you to select
the language in which the DIC
messages will appear. To select a
language:
1. Press the trip odometer reset
stem until ODOMETER displays.
Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-33
2. While in the ODOMETERdisplay, press and hold the
trip odometer reset stem for
three seconds until the currently
set language displays.
3. Continue to press and hold the trip odometer reset stem to scroll
through all of the available
languages.
The available selections are
ENGLISH (default), FRANCAIS
(French), ESPANOL (Spanish),
and NO CHANGE.
4. Once the desired language is displayed, release the trip
odometer reset stem to set your
choice.
Engine Hours
To display the ENGINE HOURS,
place the ignition in LOCK/OFF or
ACC/ACCESSORY, then press and
hold the trip odometer reset stem for
four seconds while viewing the
ODOMETER. This display shows
the total number of hours the engine
has run.Trip Odometer Reset
Stem Menu Items
(without DIC Buttons)
Language
This display allows you to select
the language in which the DIC
messages will appear. To select a
language:
1. Press the trip odometer reset stem until ODOMETER displays.
2. While in the ODOMETER display, press and hold the
trip odometer reset stem for
three seconds until the currently
set language displays.
3. Continue to press and hold the trip odometer reset stem to scroll
through all of the available
languages.
The available languages are
ENGLISH (default), FRANCAIS
(French), ESPANOL (Spanish),
and NO CHANGE. 4. Once the desired language is
displayed, release the trip
odometer reset stem to set your
choice.
Trip Odometer
Press the trip odometer reset stem
until TRIP displays. This display
shows the current distance traveled
in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi) since the last reset for the
trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing and holding the trip
odometer reset stem while the trip
odometer is displayed.
The trip odometer has a feature
called the retro-active reset. This
can be used to set the trip odometer
to the number of kilometers (miles)
driven since the ignition was last
turned on. This can be used if the
trip odometer is not reset at the
beginning of the trip.
To use the retro-active reset feature,
press and hold the trip odometer
reset stem for at least four seconds.
Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-45
Vehicle
Personalization
Vehicle Personalization
(With DIC Buttons)
Your vehicle may have
customization capabilities that allow
you to program certain features to
one preferred setting. Customization
features can only be programmed to
one setting on the vehicle and
cannot be programmed to a
preferred setting for two different
drivers.
All of the customization options may
not be available on your vehicle.
Only the options available will be
displayed on the DIC.The default settings for the
customization features were set
when your vehicle left the factory,
but may have been changed from
their default state since then.
The customization preferences are
automatically recalled.
To change customization
preferences, use the following
procedure.
Entering the Feature
Settings Menu
1. Turn the ignition on and place
the vehicle in P (Park).
To avoid excessive drain on the
battery, it is recommended that
the headlamps are turned off.
2. Press the customization button to scroll through the available
customizable options.
Feature Settings Menu Items
The following are customization
features that allow you to program
settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a
language other than English has
been set. This feature allows you to
change the language in which the
DIC messages appear to English.
Press the customization button until
the PRESS
VTO DISPLAY IN
ENGLISH screen appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to display all DIC
messages in English.
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
This feature allows you to select
the language in which the DIC
messages will appear.
Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
5-46 Instruments and Controls
Press the customization button until
the DISPLAY LANGUAGE screen
appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button once to access
the settings for this feature. Then
press the customization button to
scroll through the following settings:
ENGLISH (default):All messages
will appear in English.
FRANCAIS: All messages will
appear in French.
ESPANOL: All messages will
appear in Spanish.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
You can also change the language
by pressing the trip odometer reset
stem. See “Language” under DIC
Operation and Displays (Without
DIC Buttons) earlier in this section
for more information. AUTO DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select
when the vehicle's doors will
automatically lock. See
Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO DOOR LOCK appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
SHIFT OUT OF PARK (default):
The doors, including the tailgate, will
automatically lock when the vehicle
is shifted out of P (Park).
AT VEHICLE SPEED: The doors,
including the tailgate, will
automatically lock when the vehicle
speed is above 13 km/h (8 mph) for
3 seconds.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain. To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select
whether or not to turn off the
automatic door unlocking feature.
It also allows you to select which
doors and when the doors will
automatically unlock. See
Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: None of the doors will
automatically unlock.
DRIVER AT KEY OUT: Only the
driver door will unlock when the key
is taken out of the ignition.
Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-11
4. Press the softkey located underthe Add or Remove tab.
To restore all removed
categories, press the softkey
under the Restore All tab.
5. Repeat the steps to remove more categories.
Storing XM Channels
Drivers are encouraged to store
XM channels while the vehicle is
parked; see Defensive Driving on
page 9‑3. Tune to stored radio
stations using the presets, favorites
button, and steering wheel controls,
if the vehicle has this feature.
Up to 36 stations can be
programmed as favorites using the
six softkeys below the radio station
frequency tabs and by using the
FAV button. Press the FAV button to
go through up to six pages of
favorites, each having six favorite stations available per page. Each
page of favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM,
if equipped, stations.
Storing an XM Channel as a
Favorite
To store a station as a favorite:
1. Tune to an XM channel.
2. Press the FAV button to display
the page where the station will
be stored.
3. Press and hold one of the six softkeys until a beep sounds.
4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 to store additional radio stations.
The number of favorites pages can
be set up using the MENU button.
To set up the number of favorites
pages:
1. Press the MENU button.
2. Press the softkey located below the FAV 1-6 tab. 3. Select the number of favorites
pages by pressing the softkey
located below the displayed
page numbers.
4. Press the FAV button, or let the menu time out, to return to the
original main radio screen
showing the radio station
frequency tabs and to begin the
process of programming
favorites.
XM Radio Messages
XL (Explicit Language
Channels): These channels, or any
others, can be blocked at a
customer's request, by calling
1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and
1-877-438-9677 in Canada.
XM Updating: The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated, and
no action is required. This process
should take no longer than
30 seconds.
Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
7-38 Infotainment System
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30for
more information about changing
the source.
How to Change the RSE Video
Screen Settings
The screen display mode (normal,
full, and zoom), screen brightness,
and setup menu language can be
changed from the on screen setup
menu. To change any feature:
1. Press the
z(display menu)
button on the remote control.
2. Use the remote control
n,q,
p,o(navigation) arrows and
the
r(enter) button to use the
setup menu.
3. Press the
zbutton again to
remove the setup menu from the
screen.
Audio Output
Audio from the DVD player or
auxiliary inputs can be heard
through the following possible
sources:
.Wireless Headphones
.Vehicle Speakers
.Vehicle wired headphone jacks
on the rear seat audio system,
if the vehicle has this feature.
The RSE system always transmits
the audio signal to the wireless
headphones, if there is audio
available. See “Headphones” earlier
in this section for more information.
The DVD player is capable of
outputting audio to the wired
headphone jacks on the RSA
system, if the vehicle has this
feature. The DVD player can be
selected as an audio source on the
RSA system. See Rear Seat Audio
(RSA) System on page 7‑45 for
more information. When a device is connected to the
A/V jacks, or the radio's auxiliary
input jack, if the vehicle has this
feature, the rear seat passengers
are able to hear audio from the
auxiliary device through the wireless
or wired headphones. The front seat
passengers are able to listen to
playback from this device through
the vehicle speakers by selecting
AUX as the source on the radio.
Audio Output
Audio from the DVD player or
auxiliary inputs can be heard
through the following possible
sources:
.Wireless headphones
.Vehicle speakers
.Vehicle‐wired headphone jacks
on the RSA system, if the
vehicle has this feature.
The RSE system always transmits
the audio signal to the wireless
headphones, if there is audio
available. See “Headphones” earlier
in this section for more information.