2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO transmission

Shifting Into Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
{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 will
not move, even when you are 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 — not
in NEUTRAL. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-70.1. 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.
2-49

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear – not in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{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.
2-50

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 “torque
lock.” To 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 “Shifting
Into PARK (P)”.
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).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Automatic Transmission
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the LOCK position. You have
to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-27.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. There is no shift
interlock in this key position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system xed as soon as you can.
2-51

Parking Your Vehicle
Manual Transmission
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the manual
transmission is in gear. Your or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the
parking brake before placing the transfer case
in NEUTRAL. See “Parking Brake” in the Index.
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever
into REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the parking
brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into
REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can
turn the ignition key to LOCK, press the key release
button, remove the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-70.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
2-52

Front Storage Area
Your vehicle may have a center armrest storage
compartment in the front bench seat.
To open it, fold down the armrest and press the latch
handle located at the front of the armrest. Then, let the
lid pop up and swing open.
The storage compartment may have a cassette/compact
disc holder.
Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle may be equipped with a console
compartment between the bucket seats.
To open it, press the button and swing the console
lid open.
Your vehicle may have a compact disc holder in
the console.
Your console may have a cupholder that swings down
for the rear seat passengers to use. The front cupholder
pulls out and swivels 180° to provide clearance
between tall beverage containers and the manual
transmission shift lever (if equipped).
Tonneau Cover
If your vehicle is equipped with a tonneau cover, follow
the directions below to remove the cover.
1. To remove, unsnap the
cover. Roll it up and
stow it using the buckle
and the strap located
at the front of the box.
2-68

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Interior Lamps..............................................3-18
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-20
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Climate Control System.................................3-20
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-25
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-34
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-36
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-36
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-37
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-40
Battery Warning Light....................................3-42
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-42
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-43
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-43Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-44
Traction Off Light..........................................3-45
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-46
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-46
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-48
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-50
Cruise Control Light......................................3-51
Four-Wheel-Drive Light..................................3-51
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-52
Overdrive Disable.........................................3-52
Fuel Gage...................................................3-52
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-53
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-53
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-54
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-64
Audio System(s).............................................3-72
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)........................3-72
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-73
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-73
Radio with CD..............................................3-76
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-86
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-100
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-114
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-125
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Dome Lamp Button. See “Dome Lamps” under
Interior Lamps on page 3-18.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-13.
C. Air Outlets. See “Climate Controls” in Section 3.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Electronic Transfer
Case/Traction Assist System (TAS). SeeFour-Wheel
Drive on page 2-36.
E. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-34.
G. Gearshift Lever (Automatic Transmission). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-27.
H. Tow/Haul Selector and Overdrive Disable (Allison
Transmission
®Only) Button (If Equipped). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-27.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-72.
J. Comfort Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-20.
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block.Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-123.L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-12.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-53.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-123.
O. Parking Brake Release. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-48.
P. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory
Power Outlets on page 3-19, andAshtrays and
Cigarette Lighter on page 3-20.
R. Storage Area. See “Storage Areas” in Section 2.
S. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter
on page 3-20.
T. Manual Selectable Ride Control (If Equipped). See
Manual Selectable Ride on page 4-11.
U. 4WS Switch (If Equipped). SeeQUADRASTEER™
on page 4-15.
V. Passenger Air Bag Off Switch. SeeAir Bag Off
Switch on page 1-73.
W. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-67.
3-5

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers nd this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
move the cruise control switch to off, or
shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
If your vehicle has the Stabilitrak®feature, cruise
control will turn off if road conditions cause
Stabilitrak
®to activate.
If the accelerator pedal is held for 60 seconds or
longer, cruise control will turn off.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The switch on the driver’s side of your instrument panel
operates the exterior lamps.
Turn the control clockwise to operate the lamps.
The exterior lamp switch has four positions:
9(OFF):Turning the switch to this position turns
off the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and the
automatic headlamps.
3-13