
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Luggage/Load Locations . . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-5
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-44
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-52
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15 Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-36
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Trademarks and License
Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-20
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-29
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-43
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-49
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-76

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner ManualM
Vehicle Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-15 Technical Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-2
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
(: Heated Steering Wheel
j:LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
O: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑9.
B. Turn and Lane-Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑5.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑10.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑5 (Out of View).
E. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑29.
F. Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑33 (If
Equipped).
G. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
H. AM-FM Radio on page 7‑10.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1. J. Dome Lamp Override. See
Dome Lamps on page 6‑7.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑6 (If
Equipped).
K. Automatic Transfer Case Control (If Equipped). See
Four-Wheel Drive (Single
Speed Automatic Transfer
Case) on page 9‑39 or
Four-Wheel Drive (Two Speed
Automatic Transfer Case) on
page 9‑34.
L. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑17.
M. Cruise Control on page 9‑47.
N. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2. O.
Horn on page 5‑4.
P. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
Q. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 (If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4 (If
Equipped).
R. Power Outlets on page 5‑8.
S. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑43.
Pedal Adjust Control. See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑21.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑49.
Power Assist Steps on
page 2‑15 (If Equipped).

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
1-6 In Brief
Tailgate
Use the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter or power
door lock switch to lock and unlock
the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its
handle while pulling the tailgate
toward you.
To close the tailgate, push it firmly
upward until it latches. Push and
pull on the tailgate to be sure it is
latched securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate is not to be removed.
Removing the tailgate may cause
damage to the electrical connector
resulting in a loss of lock/unlock and
rear vision camera function.
SeeTailgate on page 2‑14.
Windows
Power Folding Mirrors Shown,
Other Models Similar
The driver door has switches that
control all windows. Each
passenger door switch only controls
that window. The power windows
work when the ignition is in ON/
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY, or in
Retained Accessory Power (RAP).
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑25. Press the switch to lower the
window. Pull the switch up to raise
it. See
Windows on page 2‑23 and
Power Windows on page 2‑23.
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
To adjust the seat:
1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
1-12 In Brief
With Manual Folding Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Move the selector switch located above the four-way control pad
to the left or right to choose
either the driver side or
passenger side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control pad to
move the mirror in the desired
direction. 3. Adjust the outside mirror so that
the side of the vehicle and the
area behind are seen.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑19.
Keep the selector switch in the
center position when not adjusting
either outside mirror.
To manual fold the mirrors:
Fold the mirrors inward to prevent
damage when going through an
automatic car wash. To fold, pull the
mirror toward the vehicle. Push the
mirror outward, to return to its
original position.
Heated Mirrors
Press
1to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4 orClimate
Control Systems on page 8‑1. Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the exterior mirrors tilt to a
preselected position when the
vehicle is in R (Reverse). This
feature lets the driver view the curb
when parallel parking. The mirrors
return to the original position when
the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned
off or to OFF/LOCK.
This feature can be programed
through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Vehicle
Personalization (With DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑44.Interior Mirror
Adjustment
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
1-18 In Brief
2. Press the plus/minus buttons,located on the steering column
shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current driving
conditions. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑32.
While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul
mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑33.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has Four-Wheel Drive,
you can send the engine's driving
power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Automatic Transfer Case
Two Speed Transfer Case
Single Speed Transfer Case The transfer case knob is located to
the left of the instrument panel
cluster. Use this knob to shift into
and out of the different Four-Wheel
Drive modes.
2
m:
This setting is used for driving
in most street and highway
situations.
AUTO: This setting is ideal for use
when road surface traction
conditions are variable.
4
m: Use the Four-Wheel-Drive
High position when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy
roads or in most off-road situations.
4
n: Vehicles with a two
speed transfer case have a
Four-Wheel-Drive Low position. This
setting sends maximum power to all
four wheels. You might choose
Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you are
driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, deep snow, and while climbing
or descending steep hills.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 8/27/12
In Brief 1-19
N (Neutral):Vehicles with a two
speed transfer case have a
N (Neutral) position. Shift the
transfer case to N (Neutral) only
when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑83 orTowing the Vehicle
on page 10‑83.
See Four-Wheel Drive (Single
Speed Automatic Transfer Case) on
page 9‑39 orFour-Wheel Drive (Two
Speed Automatic Transfer Case) on
page 9‑34.Vehicle Features
Radio(s)
Radio with USB, CD, and DVD (MP3)
O: Press to turn the system on
and off. Turn to increase or
decrease the volume. BAND:
Press to choose between
FM, AM, or SiriusXM®, if equipped.