These instructions apply to the Chevrolet Suburban (K2XX) 2015-2020.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Owners of the long 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban (K2XX) often go hunting for the battery in the cargo area — it isn’t there. On this generation the 12 V battery lives up front, and the one rule that matters is order: negative off first, negative on last, so a wrench can never bridge the live post to the body. This is the US-market procedure.
- Switch the ignition off, take the key out, and leave the doors shut for a minute or two so the modules go to sleep. Put on eye protection.
- Raise the hood. Look to the passenger side, toward the rear of the engine bay — that’s where the 12 V battery sits on the Suburban, not under a seat or in the load space.
- Slacken the negative (−, black) clamp and lift it off first; park it clear of the terminal.
- Now release the positive (+, red) clamp. Do your work.
- Refit in reverse: positive first, then negative, each clamp fully tight.
- Turn the ignition on, scan for warning lights, and reset the clock and radio.
FAQ
I can’t find the battery in the back — where is it?
Up front, passenger side, at the rear of the engine compartment. Despite the Suburban’s length, GM keeps the 12 V battery under the hood. If yours has the dual-battery option, the second (auxiliary) battery is on the driver side — work from the passenger-side main battery.
Why negative first?
With the negative (ground) cable off, a tool touching the positive post can’t complete a circuit to the body and arc. Reconnect it last for the same reason.
Will I lose anything?
The clock and radio presets, and a few driver settings; most return on their own. A memory saver in the accessory socket keeps them alive, but it leaves the system live — keep tools off the terminals if you use one.
Does the Suburban need an AGM battery?
No — these K2XX SUVs don’t have Auto Stop/Start, so a standard maintenance-free battery of the correct size is right.
The Suburban is the extended-length version of the Chevrolet Tahoe and shares the Silverado’s GM running gear, so these steps are identical across all three — see our Chevrolet Tahoe guides and Silverado guides.
If your Suburban stores a fault code with the warning light, decode it on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Chevrolet. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.