2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO wheel

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Transfer Case Settings
Driving
Conditions2HIAUTO
4WD4HI 4LO N
Normal YES
Variable YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in
Tow*YES
*See ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº in the Index for
further information.
You can choose among four driving settings:
h(2HI):This setting is used for driving in most street
and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two- wheel drive. This setting also provides the
best fuel economy.
AUTO 4WD:This setting is ideal for use when road
conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle
in AUTO 4WD, the front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle's power is sent to the rear wheels. When the
vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system will
automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in this
mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than 2HI.
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G(4HI):Use 4HI when you need extra traction, such
a on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations.
This setting also engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
g(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may never need 4LO. It
sends maximum power to all four wheels. You might
choose 4LO if you are driving off-road in deep
sand, deep mud, deep snow and climbing or descending
steep hills.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See ªParking Brakeº in the
Index.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-55orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-55for more information.
Indicator lights in the switches show which setting your
transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on
brie¯y when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on.
If the lights do not come on, you should take your
vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will
¯ash while the transfer case is being shifted. It will
remain illuminated when the shift is complete. If
for some reason the transfer case cannot make a
requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD light stays on, you should take
your vehicle to your dealer for service. See
Service on
page 5-3for further information.
Shifting into 4HI or AUTO 4WD
Press and release the 4HI or AUTO 4WD switch. This
can be done at any speed (except when shifting
from 4LO), and the indicator light will ¯ash while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed.
2-38

Electronic Transfer Case
If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the
transfer case switches are
located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose among three driving settings:
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Transfer Case Settings
Driving Conditions 2HI 4HI 4LO N
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-55orTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-55for further
information.
h(2HI):This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two-wheel drive.
G(4HI):This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
2-41

g(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle to
give you extra traction. You may never need 4LO. It
sends the maximum power to all four wheels. You might
choose 4LO if you were driving off-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which
setting you are in. The indicator lights will come on
brie¯y when you turn on the ignition and the last chosen
setting will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you
should take your vehicle in for service. An indicator light
will ¯ash while shifting. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is completed. If for some reason the transfer
cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See ªParking Brakeº in the
Index.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-55orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-55for more information.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically
with some delay.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically
with some delay.
Shifting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO
To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO, the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method
for shifting into 4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to
2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4LO
switch. You must wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop
¯ashing and remain illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear.
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Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (2HI, 4HI, or 4LO).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the
shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case
from possible damage and will only allow the transfer
case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer
case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes.
All-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has the SS package, it may be equipped
with all-wheel drive. With this feature, engine power
is sent to all four wheels all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It
is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for
road conditions.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ¯ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds.
2-44

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won't
move, even when you're on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. With four-wheel
drive, if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL,
your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your
shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear Ð not in
NEUTRAL. If you're pulling a trailer, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
·Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-46

Leaving Your Vehicle With
the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Only)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case shift lever and your transfer case
is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear ± not
in NEUTRAL.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Don't leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to.If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without ®rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque
lock.²To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see ªShifting
Into PARK (P)².
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-48

{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear Ð not
in NEUTRAL. Always set your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-46.
If you're pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-68.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Pull the tab under the mirror toward you to reduce glare
from headlamps behind you after dark. Push the tab
away from you for normal daytime operation.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
ž, Compass and
Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have this feature. When on, an
electrochromic mirror automatically dims to the proper
level to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror also includes a duel display in the upper
right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and
the outside temperature will both appear in the display
at the same time.
P(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
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