2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN manual transmission

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9159366) - 2016 - crc - 5/20/15
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

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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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/
Mexico-9159366) - 2016 - crc - 5/20/15
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.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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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.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9159366) - 2016 - crc - 5/19/15
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

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 315
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0382.
2. Battery - North America 0331.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0322.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0321.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “How to Check
Automatic Transmission Fluid”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid 0318.
6. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0382.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 322.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0315.
9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0315. 10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 328.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0329.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0342.
Engine Oil
For a heavy-duty Suburban, see the
“Engine Oil” section in the Suburban
Heavy-Duty Package supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
. Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section. .
Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0317.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.Checking Engine Oil
If equipped, the ENGINE OIL LOW
ADD OIL message displays when
the engine oil level may be too low.
SeeEngine Oil Messages 0164.
Check the oil level before filling to
the recommended level. If the oil is
not low and this message remains
on, see your dealer.
It is also a good idea to check the
engine oil level at each fuel fill. In
order to get an accurate reading,
the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
loop. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0314 for the location of
the engine oil dipstick.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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318 Vehicle Care
necessary. SeeEngine Oil
Messages 0164. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might indicate that
an oil change is not necessary for
up to a year. The engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once
a year and, at this time, the system
must be reset. For vehicles without
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the OIL LIFE REMAINING
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to check
the oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) to access this display.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0153 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0155.
2. Press and hold
V, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for several seconds.
The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off. 2. Fully press the accelerator
pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the
display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
For a heavy-duty Suburban, see the
Suburban Heavy-Duty Package
Supplement.
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9159366) - 2016 - crc - 5/19/15
Vehicle Care 319
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
automatic transmission fluid listed
inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0410.
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 401. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0410.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Caution
Too much or too little fluid can
damage the transmission. Too
much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine parts or exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Too
little fluid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if
checking the transmission fluid.
Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle: 1. Start the engine and park the vehicle on a level surface.
Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds in each range.
Then, move the shift lever back
to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle (500– 800 rpm) for at least
one minute. Slowly release the
brake pedal.
5. Keep the engine running and check the transmission fluid
temperature on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0153 orDriver
Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0155.
6. Using the transmission fluid temperature reading, determine
and perform the appropriate
check procedure. If the
transmission fluid temperature
reading is not within the
required temperature ranges,
allow the vehicle to cool,
or operate the vehicle until the
appropriate transmission fluid
temperature is reached.