Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
174 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Driving is an important responsibility. Driver
behavior, the driving environment, and the
vehicle's design all affect how well a vehicle
performs.
Being aware of these factors can help in
understanding how the vehicle handles and
what can be done to avoid many types of
crashes, including a rollover crash.
Most serious injuries and fatalities to
unbelted occupants can be reduced or
prevented by the use of seat belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. In addition,
avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt
turns, impaired driving, and aggressive
driving can help make trips safer and avoid
the possibility of a crash.
Driving Environment
Be prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other times
where visibility or traction may be limited, such as on curves, slippery roads, or hilly
terrain. Unfamiliar surroundings can also
have hidden hazards.
Vehicle Design
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
This is because they have a higher ground
clearance and a narrower track or shorter
wheelbase than passenger cars. While these
design characteristics provide the driver with
a better view of the road, these vehicles do
have a higher center of gravity than other
types of vehicles. A utility vehicle does not
handle the same as a vehicle with a lower
center of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.
Safe driver behavior and understanding of
the environment can help avoid a rollover
crash in any type of vehicle, including utility
vehicles.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible.
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
Driving and Operating 175
.On AWD vehicles, seeDriver Mode Control
0 202.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area. To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 045.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
180 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and signal
for help. Stay with the vehicle unless there
is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 330. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the
vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to
get inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on
the vehicle side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0194.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0
200.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
For All-Wheel Drive (AWD), select Off-Road
or AWD mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 202 and
All-Wheel Drive 0197.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
Driving and Operating 189
Stop/Start System
If equipped and enabled, the Stop/Start
system will shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. It has components designed
for the increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature
causes the engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit the vehicle
before shifting to P (Park). The vehicle
may restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the vehicle
is at a complete stop, the engine may turn
off. When stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. SeeTachometer095. When the
brake pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will restart.
To maintain vehicle performance, other
conditions may cause the engine to
automatically restart before the brake pedal
is released. Auto Stops may not occur and/or auto
restarts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require the
engine to be running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery needs to charge.
.The vehicle battery has recently been
disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not been
reached since the last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at the
required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in the
required operating range.
.The vehicle transmission is shifted out of
D (Drive) to any gear other than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have been selected.
See
Driver Mode Control 0202.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or grade.
.The driver door has been opened or driver
seat belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the maximum
allowed time.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
The automatic engine stop/start feature can
be disabled and enabled by pressing the
switch with the
hsymbol. Auto Stop is
enabled each time you start the vehicle.
When the indicator above
his illuminated,
the system is disabled.
Winter Cover
If equipped, the winter cover can be used to
enhance heater performance in extremely
cold conditions below −0 °C (32 °F). The
winter cover installs over the grille and
restricts airflow to the engine compartment.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
230 Driving and Operating
that extend out from the back of the vehicle
do not move further back when a trailer is
towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death from
carbon monoxide (CO), 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.
.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 0194.
Towing a trailer requires experience. The
combination of the vehicle and trailer is
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle
itself. Get used to the handling and braking
of the combination by driving on a level
road surface before driving on public roads. The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts
and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing Equipment
0235. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally check
that the cargo and trailer are secure and
that the lamps and any trailer brakes are
working.
Towing with a Stability Control System
When towing, the stability control system
might be heard. The system reacts to
vehicle movement caused by the trailer,
which mainly occurs during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle
ahead as you would when driving 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 much longer so
it is necessary to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before returning to the
lane. Pass on level roadways. Avoid passing
on hills if possible.
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 that hand to the
right.
Always back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make wider arcs
when towing a trailer to prevent damage
to your vehicle. Making very sharp turns
could cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
Vehicle Care 291
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply to deep
tread, winter tires, compact spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General
Motors passenger cars and light trucks
may vary with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to federal
safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) standards.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must Conform to
Federal Safety Requirements In Addition
To These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1½)
times as well on the government course
as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance. Warning:
The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. Warning:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
348 Index
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . 151
ArmrestRear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Assistance Systems Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Audio Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Transmission Shift Lock Control
Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Auxiliary
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . 127B
Battery Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . 118
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . 257, 299
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147, 148
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Automatic Emergency (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Braking System Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262, 263
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Backup Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264, 267
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
C
Calibration Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 1, 299
Camera Rear Vision (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Cargo Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16263960) - 2023 - CRC - 2/23/22
Index 349
Center ConsoleStorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Check Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 76
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Child Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Compartments
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Control
Traction and Electronic Stability . . . . . . . 200
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Controls Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167, 169
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . 332
Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
Covers Rear Compartment/Storage Panel . . . . . . . 82
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Adaptive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Customer Assistance Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Customer Information Publications Ordering Information . . . . . 335
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . 327
Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Data Collection Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Database Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . .142
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346