2003 CHEVROLET C/K Owners Manual

2-14
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:

Let your engine warm up before you
operate your vehicle under load.

Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (805 km).

Don't drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)

Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.

Use the lowest gear you can when you start
a loaded vehicle in motion and when going
up hills to avoid overloading the engine.

Check and adjust engine and transmission
fluid levels often and be sure tires are
properly inflated for the load you're
carrying.

If you have a Caterpillar
 diesel engine, see
the Caterpillar Diesel Engine Operation
& Maintenance Manual.

2-15
Ignition Positions
With your key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to
five different positions.
A (ACCESSORY): This position allows you to
use things like the radio, power windows and the
windshield wipers when the engine is off. To get into
ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn it toward you.
Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it was
before you inserted the key.
B (LOCK): This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It's a theft
-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK.
C (OFF): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle in motion while the engine is off (for example, if
your vehicle is being pushed).
D (RUN): This is the position for driving.
E (START): This position starts your engine.

2-16 Engine Starter Over-Crank Protection
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an engine starter over-crank
protection system. If the starter motor overheats and
shuts off due to over
-cranking, the motor must cool
down before it will reset and allow starter operation.
It can take up to six minutes before the starter will
work again.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter for
your engine. See ªVehicle Identification Numberº in
the Index. Follow the proper steps to start the engine.
To start a diesel engine, see ªStarting Your Diesel
Engineº in the Index.
Automatic Transmission
Set the parking brake and move your shift lever to
NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P) if so equipped. Your
engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature.
Manual Transmission
Set the parking brake, shift to neutral and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the engine.
Starter Motor Operation

The starter motor will disengage if you release
the key or the engine reaches a predetermined
engine speed.

To prevent overheating, the starter motor will
disengage after continuously operating for
15 seconds. You must release the key from the
start position to re
-engage the starter.

The starter motor will not engage if the engine is
already running.

The starter motor will disengage if, after
two seconds, the starter pinion gear does not
engage the flywheel or there is no engine rpm
signal from the engine speed sensor.

2-17 Starting Your Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
2. If the engine doesn't start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down and crank the
engine for five more seconds, unless it starts sooner.
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Wait 15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down.
Do Steps 1 through 3 again.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and the
accelerator pedal.NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
NOTICE:
If you ever need to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.

2-18 Gasoline Engine Warm-Up
When you've started your engine, let it run for 20 or
30 seconds to warm up before you put a load on
the engine.
Drive at moderate speeds for the first few miles,
especially in cold weather. Running a cold engine at
high speed can damage it. See ªEngine High Idle
Systemº in the Index if your vehicle has this feature.
Restarting the Gasoline Engine While
Moving (Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you'll first have to shift the automatic
transmission to NEUTRAL (N). This safety feature
prevents starting the engine when the transmission is
in a drive gear.
Stopping the Gasoline Engine
Let your engine idle for a few seconds before turning it
off after you have finished driving your vehicle.
If you shift to NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P), set the
parking brake.
If your vehicle has a two
-speed axle, put the range
selector in LOW. To be sure the axle has shifted into
LOW, engage the clutch and transmission; the vehicle
may move slightly when you do this.
While your engine is idling before you turn it off, you
can make a list of any operational or handling concerns
to give to responsible maintenance personnel so they can
handle them right away.
Moisture will condense in a fuel tank that is almost
empty if the engine has not run for a while, even just
overnight under some conditions. So, it's always best to
refuel your vehicle at the end of each run.

2-19
Starting the Diesel Engine
If you have a Caterpillar diesel engine, also refer to your
Caterpillar
Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for starting procedure.
For vehicles with the DURAMAX diesel engine, also
see ªStarting Your DURAMAX Diesel Engineº
following.
To make starting easier in cold weather (below 32F or
0C), the proper viscosity engine oil should be used.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index. It's also best to heat the
engine oil first. You can do this by using an engine
coolant heater.
NOTICE:
If you ever need to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Restarting the Diesel Engine While Moving
(Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you'll first have to shift the automatic
transmission to NEUTRAL (N). This safety feature
prevents starting the engine when the transmission is
in a drive gear.
Stopping the Diesel Engine
If you have a Caterpillar diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar
Diesel Engine Operation &
Maintenance Manual.
1. Set the parking brake and shift to NEUTRAL (N)
or PARK (P).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
If your vehicle has a two
-speed axle, see ªRear Axle,
Tw o
-Speed Electric Shift Controlº or ªRear Axle,
Tw o
-Speed Airshift Controlº in the Index.

2-20 Cold Weather Starting
(Caterpillar

Diesel)
Because the diesel engine uses compression ignition, it
is harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline engine.
The air intake heater and use of the proper engine oil,
optional engine coolant heaters and optional ether
injection systems help cold weather starting. See the
Caterpillar

Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for more information.
NOTICE:
Your diesel engine has an electric air intake
heater system which reduces white smoke and
helps start the engine in cold weather. Do not
spray starting fluid into the air intake where it
can contact the heater elements.
If you don't have the GM Automatic Ether
Injection System, don't use starting fluid or you
could damage your engine. If you have the GM
system, use only GM approved starting fluid that
has been tested to establish compatibility with the
air inlet heater system.
Diesel Engine Warm-Up
Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
warms up. These can include outside temperature,
engine load, idle time and your vehicle's option content.
Your vehicle may be equipped with some features that
can help the engine reach operating temperature sooner.
Some of these features are discussed below.
Also, remember that an automatic transmission adds
heat to the cooling system through the heat exchanger in
the radiator. Because of this, vehicles equipped with
automatic transmissions are often able to retain engine
coolant heat better than manual transmission vehicles.
See your Caterpillar

Operation & Maintenance manual
for additional diesel engine warm
-up information.

2-21 Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown
(If Equipped)
Your check gages light will come on if the system senses
high engine temperature or low engine oil pressure. If high
engine temperature or low engine oil pressure is detected,
you will also hear a tone alarm at two beats per second.
The alarm and the light will remain on until the condition
is fixed. If the engine temperature or oil pressure condition
worsens, the tone alarm will go to five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light will
come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in approximately 25
-30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. See ªAutomatic Engine
Shutdown Lightº later in this section.
Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Don't start it
until the reason for the problem is known, and the
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the engine and get another
25
-30 seconds of operation. Do this only if you have to,
since there is a problem that can harm the engine if it
isn't fixed. Engine automatic shutdown, for gasoline
engines, requires activation by your dealer.
High Idle System (Caterpillar
Diesel
and Gasoline Engines)
Your vehicle has both automatic and manual high idle
capabilities.
Automatic High Idle System (Diesel Engines)
(If Equipped)
The automatic high idle feature will engage whenever
you start your vehicle and the engine is below the preset
operating temperature. This will help decrease engine
warm
-up time.
Idle speed will then return to normal under any of the
following conditions:

The engine reaches the preset operating temperature
or has been operating for at least ten minutes.

The brake pedal is pressed.

The manual transmission clutch pedal is pressed or,
the automatic transmission (if equipped) is shifted
from NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).

The vehicle speed exceeds approximately
5 mph (8 km/h).

The throttle is pressed.