Chevrolet 2002 Tahoe User manual

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2002 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Owner’s Manual
Litho in U.S.A. E Copyright General Motors Corporation 6/18/01
Part Number C2216 A First Edition All Rights Reserved

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, the name
TAHOE, and the name SUBURBAN are registered
trademarks 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

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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.”

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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.

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These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:

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Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Tahoe Suburban

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
1-22 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-27 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-28 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-28 Driver Position
1-35 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-36 Right Front Passenger Position
1-36 Air Bag Systems
1-46 Center Passenger Position
1-47 Rear Seat Passengers
1-51 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults
1-54 Children
1-58 Restraint Systems for Children
1-76 Older Children
1-79 Safety Belt Extender
1-79 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-79 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down. It also tells you about
reclining front seatbacks and head restraints.
Manual Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
If your vehicle has a manual bucket or a split bench seat,
you can adjust it with this lever located at the front of
the seat.
Lift the lever to unlock the seat. Using your body, slide
the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Try
to move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is
locked into place.

1-3
Manual Cushion Tilt (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can raise or lower
the front of the driver’s or passenger’s seat with this
lever located at the inside edge of the seat. To raise or
lower the front of the seat, move the lever up or down in
a continuous motion until the cushion reaches the
desired height.
Manual Lumbar Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has a lumbar
adjustment, the 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. Operating effort can
be reduced if you lean forward slightly while turning
the knob.

1-4
Power Seat(s) (If Equipped) If your vehicle has a power seat, you can adjust it with
these controls located on the outboard sides of the seats.
D Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by
raising or lowering the forward edge of the
horizontal control.
D Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the
whole horizontal control forward or rearward.
D Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by raising
or lowering the rear edge of the horizontal control.
D Moving the whole horizontal control up or down
raises or lowers the entire seat cushion.
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 the front of
the vehicle. See “Reclining Seatbacks” in the Index for
further information.

1-5
Power Lumbar Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, the four-way
control is located on the
outboard side of the seat.
To increase or decrease support, press and hold the front
or rear of the control. Let go of the control when the
lower seatback reaches the desired level of support.
You can also reshape the side wing area of the lower
seatback for more lateral support. To increase or
decrease support, press and hold the top or bottom of
the control. Let go of the control when the lower
seatback reaches the desired level of support.
Memory Seat (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, the buttons used to
program and recall the
driver’s seat and recliner
position are located on the
driver’s door trim panel.
It does not store the lumbar or back support positions.
To program the memory seat, do the following:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat to the desired position.
2. Then press the SET button and, within five seconds,
press one of the two numbered buttons on the
memory control.
To recall your setting, put the vehicle in PARK (P) and
press the number you chose.
To program the seat position for a second driver, follow
the preceding steps, but press the other number on the
memory control.

1-6
Heated Front Seats (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, the button used to
control the driver’s heated
seat is located on the
driver’s door panel. The
button used to control the
passenger’s heated seat is
located on the passenger’s
door panel.
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 will illuminate for
each heat setting anytime the heated seats are operating.
The ignition must be in RUN for them to operate.
The heated front seats will be canceled after the ignition
is turned to OFF. If you still want to use the heated front
seat feature after you restart your vehicle, you will need
to press the heated seat button again.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the front seatback, lift the manual lever located
on the outboard side of the seat. Release the lever to
lock the seatback where you want it. Lift the lever again
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.

1-7
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.

1-8
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.
On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and
rearward also.
The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle may be
adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head
restraints, except they do not tilt forward or rearward.
Rear Seats
60/40 Split Bench Seat
Tahoe/Yukon: The rear seat may have a 60/40 split
seat which may be folded down to give you more
cargo space.
Suburban/Yukon XL: The second row rear seat of
Suburban/Yukon XL models may have a 60/40 split
seat. Either side of the rear seat may be folded down
to provide more cargo space.

1-9
Folding the Seatbacks
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
On all models with 60/40 split bench seats, you must
insert the center occupant lap belt latch plate into the
loop provided, on the underside of the folded forward
seat cushion, before folding the rear seat back down on
the driver’s side.
You may have to adjust the location of the latch plate on
the webbing so that it reaches the loop. Stowing in this
loop will reduce the chances of damaging and soiling
the belt. Remember to remove the latch plate from the
loop before the seat is returned to the passenger position.
On Suburban/Yukon XL insert the two buckles into
the retainer in the seatback, before folding the rear
seat on the driver’s side. The buckles will be out of
the way when the seat is folded and will be available
for passengers to use when the seat is returned to the
passenger position. Also, make sure that nothing is
under or in front of the seat and that the head restraints
are completely lowered.
On Tahoe/Yukon models the rear seatbacks may be
equipped with rearward folding head restraints. When
the seatback is being folded down, the head restraint will
automatically fold rearward to allow a flat load floor for
cargo or entry to the third row seat (if equipped).

1-10
To fold, pull up on the
strap loop at the rear of
the seat cushion. Then,
pull the seat cushion up
an fold it forward.
After folding the seat cushion fully forward, pull the
seatback forward and fold the seatback down until it is
flat. If the seatback cannot fold flat because it interferes
with the cushion, try moving the seat forward and/or
bring the front seatback more upright. On the passenger
side of the Suburban/Yukon XL models, the lever at
the base of the seat must be turned rearward to release
the seatback.
To create a load floor release the panels from the
seatback by pushing forward on the latch. Then fold
the panels back to cover the rear seat footwell area.
To return the seat to the passenger position on a
Suburban/Yukon XL do the following:
1. Lift the floor load panels and latch them into
the seatback.
2. Lift the seatback up and push rearward all the way.
3. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position.
4. Pull forward on the seatback and up on the seat
cushion to make sure the seat is securely in place.

1-11
Make sure that the buckles on the driver’s side seatback
are accessible to the outboard and center occupant and
are not under the seat cushions.
On Tahoe/Yukon models make sure the head restraints
are returned to the upright position.
Bucket Seats (Suburban/Yukon XL
Second Row)
If your vehicle has bucket seats, the seatbacks can be
reclined and the seats can be folded to give you more
cargo room.
Reclining the Seatbacks
On the Suburban/Yukon XL models with bucket seats,
the seatbacks can be reclined. To adjust the seatback do
the following:
1. Pull forward the lever located at the base of the back.
2. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it. If you pull the lever without pushing on the
seatback, the seatback will go to an upright position.
Folding the Seatbacks
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always press rearward
on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
The seatbacks on the bucket seats may be folded
forward to give you more cargo space.
In order to fold the back of a bucket seat into a
horizontal load floor, the back must be in its upright
position, and not reclined.

1-12
CAUTION:
If a head restraint is not installed on the seatback
or stored in the vehicle properly, it could be thrown
about the vehicle in a crash or sudden maneuver.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Remove the
head restraints only when you need to fold the seat,
and be sure that the head restraints are stored
securely in the space provided in the folded up
seat cushion. When the seat is returned to the
passenger position, be sure the head restraints are
installed properly.
On Suburban/Yukon XL models with rear bucket seats,
the head restraints need to be removed in order to fold
the rear seats. To do this follow these directions:
1. Lift the head restraints up until they stop.
2. Press in the button on the side of the head restraint
guide cap and lift up on the head restraint.
3. Do the same for the other cap.
The head restraint can be removed and stored in the
space provided in the folded up seat cushion.
To fold the seatbacks on the bucket seats, do the following:
1. Pull up on the strap loop
located at the rear of the
seat cushion and pull the
seat cushion up. Then
fold it forward.
2. Push the
seatback release
lever rearward
and pull the
seatback forward.
Then fold it until
it is flat.
If the seatback cannot fold flat because it interferes with
the cushion, try moving the front seat forward and/or
bringing the front seatback more upright.

1-13
Once the seatbacks are folded down, the rear seat
footwell area will be exposed and will have to be
covered by the load floor panel. To create a load
floor, do the following:
1. Release the panels from the seatbacks by pushing
forward on the latches.
2. Then fold the panels back to cover the rear seat
footwell area.
If you have removed the head restraints to fold the rear
bucket seat, be sure to reinstall them on the seatback
after it has been returned to the normal seating position.
50/50 Split Bench Seat (Third Row)
If your vehicle has a 50/50 split bench, the seatback(s)
can be folded and the entire seat(s) tilted or removed
from the vehicles.
Folding the Seatbacks
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always press rearward
on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
To fold the seatbacks do the following:
D Pull up on the release lever, labeled 1, located on the
rear of the seatback, and push the seatback forward.
D To return the seat to the passenger position, pull
up on the release lever labeled 1 and then pull up
on the seatback until the seatback locks into the
upright position.
Push forward on the seatback to make sure it is locked
into position.