Chevrolet 2002 Avalanche User manual

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number C2218 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2001 All Rights Reserved i

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
Liftgate
Automatic Transmission Operation
Four-Wheel Drive
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
Sunroof (If Equipped)
HomeLink® Transmitter (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Your Driving and the Road
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Off-Road Driving
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock Radio/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
iii
Section
5
Section
4
Section
3

iv
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual)
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide
v

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem are
registered trademarks and the name AVALANCHE
is a trademark of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it
appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will
be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

vii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”

viii
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could damage
your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on
your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing
the operation or information relating to a specific
component, control, message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the index:
D “Engine Compartment Overview”
D “Instrument Panel”
D “Comfort Controls”
D “Audio Systems”
Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.
Here are some examples of symbols you may find on
your vehicle:

ix

Service Station Guide
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Battery
See Section 6

1- 1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-9 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-14 Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-15 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-15 Driver Position
1-21 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-22 Right Front Passenger Position
1-22 Air Bag Systems
1-31 Center Passenger Position
1-32 Rear Seat Passengers
1-35 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-37 Children
1-41 Restraint Systems for Children
1-53 Older Children
1-56 Safety Belt Extender
1-56 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-56 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
Manual Front Passenger Seat
If your vehicle has a manual front passenger split bench
seat, you can adjust it with this lever located at the front
of the seat.
Lift the lever at the front of the seat to unlock it.
Using your body, slide the seat to where you want it.
Then, release the lever and try to move the seat with
your body to make sure that the seat is locked into place.
Manual Lumbar Control
If your vehicle has a
lumbar adjustment knob,
you can increase or decrease
lumbar support in an area
of the lower seatback.
The lumbar knob is
located on the outboard
side of the seat cushion.
To increase or decrease support, turn the knob toward
the front or rear of the vehicle.

1-3
Power Seat(s) (If Equipped)
Horizontal Control: If your vehicle has a power seat,
you can adjust it with the horizontal control located on
the outboard edge of the seat(s).
D Raise or lower the front of the seat by raising or
lowering the forward edge of the control. Raise or
lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering the
rear edge of the control.
D Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the
whole control toward the front or toward the rear of
the vehicle.
D Moving the whole control up or down raises or
lowers the entire seat cushion.
Vertical Control: If your vehicle has power reclining
seats, you can use the vertical control to adjust the angle
of the seatback. Move the reclining front seatback
rearward or forward by moving the control toward the
rear or toward the front of the vehicle. See “Reclining
Seatbacks” in the Index for further information.
Power Lumbar Control (If Equipped)
If you have power
lumbar adjustment,
you can increase or
decrease lumbar support
in the lower seatback.
The control is located
on the outboard side of
the seat cushion.

1-4
D To increase support in the lower back area, press and
hold the front of the control. Let go of the control
when the lower seatback reaches the desired level
of support.
D To decrease support in the lower back area, press
and hold the rear of the control. Let go of the
control when the lower seatback reaches the desired
level of support.
D You can also reshape the back wing area of the
lower seatback.
D To increase support in the wing area of the lower
seatback, press and hold the top of the control.
Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.
D To decrease support in the wing area of the lower
seatback, press and hold the bottom of the control.
Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.
Memory Seat (If Equipped)
The memory function
recalls the driver’s seat
cushion and recliner
positions. The buttons
are located on the driver’s
side door panel.
This feature does not store the lumbar or back
support positions.
To set your memory seat do the following:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat to the desired position.
2. Press the SET button and then press either the
1 or 2 memory button within five seconds.
When your vehicle is in PARK (P), press the same
memory button to recall the seat setting.
To program the seat for a second driver, follow the
preceding steps, but press the other memory button.

1-5
Heated Front Seats (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature the button used to
control the driver’s side
heated seat is located on
the driver’s side door
panel. The button for
the passenger’s side
heated seat is located
on the passenger’s side
door panel.
The ignition must be in RUN for this feature to operate.
To activate the heated seats, press the button once for
the HI heat setting. Press the button again for the LO
heat setting. To turn off the heated seats, press the
button a third time. An indicator light near the button
will illuminate any time the heated seat feature is in use.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the front seatback, lift the lever. The lever
is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.
Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it. Lift the lever without pushing on the seatback
and the seatback will go to an upright position.
If your vehicle has power seats with a power recliner,
see “Power Seats” in the Index for further information
on how to operate the reclining seatback feature.

1-6
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash, you
could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.

1-7
Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
The head restraints may tilt forward and rearward also.
The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle are
adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head
restraints, except they do not tilt forward or rearward.
To tilt the front head restraints forward, grasp the top
of the restraint and move it forward to where you want it
to go until you hear a click. It will then be locked into
that position until you need to move it again. Pulling it
forward past the last position will allow the restraint to
return to its upright position.

1-8
Rear Seats
The rear seat is a 60/40 split rear seat that can be folded
to give you more cargo space and access to the folding
midgate. See “Midgate” in the Index for more
information on operation of the folding midgate.
To fold either side of the seat do the following:
1. Push the rear head restraints all the way down.
Driver’s Side
2. Place the seat belt
buckles through the
loops/pockets on the
seatback(s). This way,
the seat belts will be
easy to access when
the seats are returned
to the upright position.
Passenger Side
3. Pull the seat loop located
where the seatback and
seat cushion meet.
The seat will release
and allow you to tilt
it toward the front of
the vehicle.