
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
Vehicle Care 10-21
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let theengine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the FULL
COLD mark. If necessary, add only
enough fluid to bring the level up to
the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12. Always
use the proper fluid. Notice:
Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes on
when the washer fluid is low. The
message is displayed for
15 seconds at the start of each
ignition cycle. When the WASHER
FLUID LOW ADD FLUID message displays, washer fluid will need to
be added to the windshield washer
fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑5 for reservoir location.
Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
Vehicle Care 10-39
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 Fuses Usage
3 Steering Wheel Controls Backlight
4 Driver Door Module
5 Dome Lamps, Driver Side Turn Signal

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
10-40 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
6 Driver Side Turn Signal, Stoplamp
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 Fuses
Usage
17 Interior Lamps
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
Center Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The center instrument panel fuse
block is located underneath the
instrument panel, to the left of the
steering column.

Black plate (48,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
10-48 Vehicle Care
(C) Aspect Ratio:A two‐digit
number that indicates the tire
height‐to‐width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 75, as shown
in item C of the light truck
(LT‐Metric) tire illustration, it
would mean that the tire's
sidewall is 75 percent as high as
it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A
letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in
the tire. The letter R means
radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted‐bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Load Range
:Load Range. (G) Service Description
:The
service description indicates the
load index and speed rating of a
tire. If two numbers are given as
in the example, 120/116, then
this represents the load index for
single versus dual wheel usage
(single/dual). The speed rating is
the maximum speed a tire is
certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.

Black plate (90,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
10-90 Vehicle Care
Weatherstrips
Apply silicone grease on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. Lubricate weatherstrips
once a year. Black marks from
rubber material on painted surfaces
can be removed by rubbing with a
clean cloth. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 11‑12.
Tires
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Notice: Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle.
Wheels and Trim —Aluminum
or Chrome
Use a soft, clean cloth with mild
soap and water to clean the wheels.
After rinsing thoroughly with clean
water, dry with a soft, clean towel.
A wax may then be applied.
Notice: Chrome wheels and other
chrome trim may be damaged if
the vehicle is not washed after
driving on roads that have been
sprayed with magnesium,
calcium, or sodium chloride.
These chlorides are used on
roads for conditions such as ice
and dust. Always wash the
chrome with soap and water after
exposure.
Notice: To avoid surface damage,
do not use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes,
cleaners, brushes, or cleaners
that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels. Use only
approved cleaners. Also, never
drive a vehicle with aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels through an automatic car wash that uses
silicone carbide tire cleaning
brushes. Damage could occur
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Steering, Suspension, and
Chassis Components
Visually inspect the front and rear
suspension and steering system for
damaged, loose, or missing parts or
signs of wear. Inspect the power
steering for proper hook-up, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Visually
check constant velocity joints,
rubber boots, and axle seals for
leaks.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
hood hinges, liftgate hinges, and the
steel fuel door hinge unless the
components are plastic. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
11-12 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. SeeEngine Oil on page 10‑6.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on page 10‑15.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 12377967, in Canada 89021320).
Windshield Washer Automotive windshield washer fluid that meets regional freeze protection requirements.
Power Steering System GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 89021184, in Canada 89021186).
Automatic Transmission DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock Cylinders Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in Canada 10953474).
Chassis Lubrication Chassis Lubricant (GM Part No. 12377985, in Canada 88901242) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
i-4 INDEX
Driving (cont'd)Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
DVD Rear Seat EntertainmentSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-76
Electrical System
Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-5
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-36
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-29
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67 Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-19
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-3
F
Fan
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-5
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-10
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Four-Wheel DriveTransfer Case . . . . . . . . . 9-34, 9-39
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
INDEX i-9
Power (cont'd)Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Privacy Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-20
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . 13-13
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
R
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-20
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
Radios
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
Rear Seat Entertainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . . 7-46
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-51
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Replacement
Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-14
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-34
Replacing LATCH System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . 3-20
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-18
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Restraints
Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Ride Control Systems Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7, 13-11