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294 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
. Fuel can spray out if the
refueling nozzle is inserted
too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot
weather. Insert the refueling
nozzle slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop prior
to beginning to flow fuel
To open the fuel door, push and
release the rearward center edge of
the door.
The vehicle has a capless refueling
system and does not have a fuel
cap. The filling nozzle must be fully
inserted and latched prior to starting
fuel flow.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Vehicle performance issues,
including engine stalling and
damage to the fuel system.
. Fuel spills.
. Potential fuel fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0391.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
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296 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle0385. For
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0385.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply to
trailer towing. .
Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.
. The Front Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off
when towing. See Front
Automatic Braking (FAB) System
0 286.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0254.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
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Driving and Operating 297
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it isnecessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing, use the Tow/Haul
Mode to prevent damage to the
engine or transmission. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0259.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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298 Driving and Operating
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, seeEngine Overheating 0326.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface. If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 7. Stop and have someone pick
up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0401.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
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304 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0259.
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” under
Trailer Towing 0299. 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.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric-over-hydraulic trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to
the trailer brakes is based on the
amount of brake pressure being
applied by the vehicle’s brakesystem, and on the type of trailer
brakes detected. This available
power output to the trailer brakes
can be adjusted to a wide range of
trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’
s brake, antilock brake,
and StabiliTrak systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
antilock brake or StabiliTrak
systems to activate, power sent to
the trailer's brakes will be
automatically adjusted to minimize
trailer wheel lock-up. This does not
imply that the trailer has StabiliTrak.
If the vehicle’s brake, antilock brake,
or StabiliTrak systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC
system may not be fully functional
or may not function at all. Make sure
all of these systems are fully
operational to ensure full
functionality of the ITBC system.
The ITBC system is powered
through the vehicle's electrical
system. Turning the ignition off will
also turn off the ITBC system. The
ITBC system is fully functional only
when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
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308 Driving and Operating
If the CHECK TRAILER
WIRING message only
reappears when connecting the
trailer wiring harness to the
vehicle, the electrical fault is on
the trailer side.
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE
SYSTEM: This message will display
when there is a problem with the
ITBC system. If this message
continues over multiple ignition
cycles, there is a problem with the
ITBC system. Have the vehicle
serviced.
If either the CHECK TRAILER
WIRING or SERVICE TRAILER
BRAKE SYSTEM message displays
while driving, the ITBC system may
not be fully functional or may not
function at all. When traffic
conditions allow, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of the road
and turn the ignition off. Check the
wiring connection to the trailer and
turn the ignition back on. If either of
these messages continues, either
the vehicle or trailer needs service. A GM dealer may be able to
diagnose and repair problems with
the trailer. However, any diagnosis
and repair of the trailer is not
covered under the vehicle warranty.
Contact your trailer dealer for
assistance with trailer repairs and
trailer warranty information.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
TSC feature. Trailer sway is
unintended side-to-side motion of a
trailer while being towed. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the
TSC detects that sway is increasing,
the vehicle brakes are selectively
applied at each wheel, to help
reduce excessive trailer sway. If the
vehicle is equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, and the trailer has
the electric actuated brake system,
StabiliTrak may also apply the trailer
brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
warning light will flash on theinstrument cluster. Vehicle speed
must be reduced. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0267.
{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC, trailer sway could result
in loss of control and the vehicle
could crash. If excessive trailer
sway is detected, slow down to a
safe speed. Check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes. These could include an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration,
excessive vehicle-trailer speed,
or improperly inflated or incorrect
vehicle or trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0302 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
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Driving and Operating 309
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0312.Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light)
0 146. A device connected to the
Data Link Connector (DLC)—
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device—
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 0100 andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 0100.
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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310 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 311
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 312
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 317
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 321
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 326
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 328
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Battery - North America . . . . . . 331
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 333
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 334
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 335
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 335
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 336
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 336
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . 339 Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 340
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 341
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 353
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359