2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO steering

Annual Log
Press the trip button, or the reset stem on the instrument
panel cluster, to scroll to the annual log. The annual
log shows the mileage accumulated since it was
last reset. To reset the annual log, press and hold the
select button, or the trip odometer reset stem for
approximately two seconds.
Timer
The DIC can be used as a stopwatch. Press the select
button, or the trip odometer reset stem, while TIMER
is displayed to start the timer. The display will show the
amount of time that has passed since the timer was
last reset (not including time the ignition is off). Time will
continue to be counted as long as the ignition is on,
even if another display is being shown on the DIC. The
timer will record up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and
59 seconds (99:59:59) after which the display will roll
back to zero.
To stop the counting of time, press the select button
brie¯y while TIMER is displayed.
To reset the timer to zero, press and hold the select
button, or the trip odometer reset stem, while TIMER is
displayed.
Fuel Information Button
Use the fuel information button to scroll through the
range, average fuel economy, instant fuel economy and
the GM Oil Life SystemŸ.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the DIC steering
wheel control buttons you will not be able to display the
fuel information.
Fuel Range
Press the fuel information button until RANGE appears
to display the remaining distance you can drive without
refueling. It's based on fuel economy and the fuel
remaining in the tank. The display will show LOW if the
fuel level is low.
The fuel economy data used to determine fuel range is
an average of recent driving conditions. As your driving
conditions change, this data is gradually updated. Fuel
range cannot be reset.
Average Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until AVG appears in the
display. Average fuel economy is how many miles per
gallon your vehicle is getting based on current and past
driving conditions.
Press and hold the select button while AVG.ECON is
displayed to reset the average fuel economy. Average
fuel economy will then be calculated starting from
that point. If the average fuel economy is not reset, it
will be continually updated each time you drive.
3-57

Instant Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until INST appears in
the display. Instant fuel economy is how many miles
per gallon your vehicle is at the particular moment
in time. The instant fuel economy cannot be reset.
GM Oil Life SystemŸ
Press the fuel information button until ENGINE OIL LIFE
appears in the display. The GM Oil Life SystemŸ
shows an estimate of the oil's remaining useful life. It
will show 100% when the system is reset after an
oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
Always reset the engine oil life after and oil change. To
reset the Oil Life System press and hold the select
button while ENGINE OIL LIFE is displayed. OIL LIFE
RESET will appear on the display for 10 seconds
to let you know the system is reset.
The DIC does not replace the need to maintain your
vehicle as recommended in the Maintenance Schedule
in this manual. Also, the oil change reminder does
not measure how much oil you have in your engine. So,
be sure to check your oil level often. See
Engine Oil
on page 5-16.
Personalization Button
You can program certain features to a preferred setting
for up to two people. Press the personalization button to
scroll through the following personalization features. All of
the personalization options may not be available on your
vehicle. only the options available will be displayed on
your DIC.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the DIC steering
wheel buttons you will not have any of these
personalization options except for DISPLAY
LANGUAGE. See DISPLAY LANGUAGE later in this
section for more information.
·AUTOMATIC LOCKING
·AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING
·REMOTE LOCK FEEDBACK
·ALARM WARNING TYPE
·REMOTE UNLOCK FEEDBACK
·HEADLAMPS ON AT EXIT
·PERIMETER LIGHTING
·SEAT POSITION RECALL
·EASY EXIT DRIVER SEAT
3-58

Audio Steering Wheel Controls
You can control certain radio functions using the buttons
on your steering wheel.
g(OnStar/Voice Recognition):If your vehicle has
OnStarž, you can press this button to interact with
the OnStaržsystem. See the OnStaržmanual provided
with your vehicle for more information.
IF your vehicle does not have OnStar
ž, pressing this
button will mute the audio system.
PROG (Program):Press this button to play a station
you have programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons
on the selected band. If a cassette tape is playing, press
this button to play the other side of the tape. If a CD is
playing, press this button to go to the next available CD.
QSOURCER:Press this button to select AM, FM1,
FM2, or XM1 or XM2, (USA only, if equipped), or a
cassette tape or CD. The cassette or CD must be loaded
to play. Available loaded sources are shown on the
display as a tape or a CD symbol.
QSEEKR:Press the up or the down arrow to seek
to the next or to the previous radio station and stay
there.
QVOLR:Press the up or the down arrow to increase
or to decrease volume.
DVD Distortion
You may experience audio distortion in the
IR headphones when operating cellular phones,
scanners, CB radios, Global Positioning Systems
(GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or walkie talkies.
It may be necessary to turn off the DVD player when
operating one of these devices in or near the vehicle.
* Excludes the OnStar
žSystem.
3-122

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Assist System (TAS).........................4-10
Manual Selectable Ride.................................4-12
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-13
Steering......................................................4-13
QUADRASTEERŸ........................................4-15
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-19
Passing.......................................................4-19
Loss of Control.............................................4-21
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle....................................................4-22
Driving at Night............................................4-38
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-39
City Driving..................................................4-42Freeway Driving...........................................4-43
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-44
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-45
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-46
Winter Driving..............................................4-48
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-52
Towing..........................................................4-55
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-55
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-55
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-58
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.......4-61
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................4-65
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-67
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab..................4-67
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-68
Power Take-Off (PTO)...................................4-95
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your re¯exes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious Ð or
even fatal Ð collision if you drive after drinking.
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. Also see
Traction Assist
System (TAS) on page 4-10.
4-5

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down ®rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
4-8

Supplemental Brake Assist System
If your vehicle has vacuum assist power brakes, it is also
equipped with a supplemental brake assist system
that supplies additional vacuum to the vacuum brake
booster if engine vacuum is reduced. Under certain
conditions, the supplemental brake assist system may
run brie¯y after starting your vehicle or when you
apply and release the brake pedal and it may continue
to run even after you have removed your foot from
the brake pedal. When the supplemental brake assist
system is operating, you may hear a motor running
or feel a slight vibration in the steering wheel or brake
pedal. This indicates that the supplemental brake
assist system is working to supply additional vacuum for
your vacuum assist power brakes. This is a normal
operation of your brake system and does not require that
the brake system be serviced.Each time you start your vehicle and accelerate to
10 mph, the supplemental brake assist system
will perform a self-diagnostic check of the system and
you may hear or feel the supplemental brake assist
motor run brie¯y. While you are driving your vehicle, the
supplemental brake assist system monitors itself to
ensure that it is operating properly. If there is a problem
with the supplemental brake assist system, the
SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER message will be displayed
on the Driver Information Center. See
DIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-65.
If your supplemental brake assist system runs every
time you apply and release the brake pedal or you notice
that the brake pedal has suddenly become much
harder to push and the vehicle takes longer to stop, you
should have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
4-9

·For optimum ride comfort when trailering, fully
loaded, driving off-road, or when personal
preferences demand more control the button should
be pressed in with the indicator light illuminated.
This switch position indicates FIRM levels of
ride control or damping.
The following guide can also be used to help determine
the best setting.
NORMAL:The indicator light will be off when the
system is in this setting. Use for normal city and highway
driving. Provides a smooth, soft ride when the vehicle
is unloaded.
FIRM (Unloaded):Press the switch to activate this
setting, the indicator light will illuminate. Use this setting
when road conditions or personal preference demand
more control. Provides more ªfeel²or response to
the road conditions.
FIRM (Loaded):Press the switch to activate this
setting, the indicator light will illuminate. Use this setting
to minimize trailer inputs to the vehicle or when the
vehicle is fully loaded. This setting is also appropriate
for off-road driving.
You can select a setting at any time based on road and
trailering conditions to provide the best ride and
handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.Locking Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your locking rear axle can
give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or
gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time, but
when one of the rear wheels has no traction and the other
does, this feature will allow the wheel with traction to
move the vehicle.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it
will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will
understand this.
4-13