2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
are not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-53for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, seeTheft-Deterrent
Feature on page 3-127.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below
to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or
all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
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Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. If you have a vehicle with a diesel engine with two
batteries (or more), you should know before you
begin that, especially in cold weather, you may not
be able to get enough power from a single
battery in another vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle has more than one battery, use
the battery that’s closer to the starter – this
will reduce electrical resistance.
3. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake. If
you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear not in NEUTRAL.Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
4. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that aren’t needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save your radio!
5. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (−) terminal locations of the other vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump
starting terminal and a remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal. You should always use these
remote terminals instead of the terminals on
the battery.
The remote positive (+) terminal is located behind a
red plastic cover, if equipped, near the engine
accessory drive bracket. To uncover the remote
positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover,
if equipped.
The remote negative (−) terminal is located on the
engine drive bracket on all V8 and diesel engines,
and on the thermostat housing on the 8.1L engine.
On V8 engines it is marked “GND.”
5-54

On V6 engines the remote negative (−) terminal is
located on a tab attached to the engine accessory
drive bracket where it is marked “GND.”
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the ACDelco
®battery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ller caps, be sure the right amount of
uid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that rst. If you do not, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or a remote positive terminal (+) if the
vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don’t connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too. And don’t connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
On vehicles equipped with dual batteries, make all
battery connections to the remote positive (+)
and remote negative (−) terminals.
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7. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal
of the vehicle with the
dead battery. Use
a remote positive (+)
terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal
if the vehicle has one.9. Now connect the black
negative (−) cable to
the negative (−)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
The vehicle’s remote
negative (–) terminal is
marked GND.
10. Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
doesn’tgo to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy
unpainted metal engine part of the vehicle with
the dead battery, or to a remote negative (–)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
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11. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to
the remote negative (−) terminal, marked GND, on
the vehicle with the dead battery.
12. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
13. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service. V8 Engine
8.1L EngineV8 Engine, Diesel
Similar
5-57

Notice:If the jumper cables are removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Remove the jumper
cables in the correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or other metal.
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the bad battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) remote terminal cover to its
original position.
All-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section also apply to these
vehicles. However, there are two additional systems that
need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4. Jumper Cable Removal
5-58

How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the ller plug hole.
Use care not to overtighten the plug.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
AWD Transfer Case (A) Fill Plug (B) Drain Plug
1500 Series Shown, 2500 Series Similar
5-59

To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
The proper level for the 1500 Series is from
5/8 inch to 1 5/8 inch (15 mm to 40 mm) below the
bottom of the ller plug hole.
The proper level for the 1500 HD Series,
2500 Series, 2500 HD, and 3500 Series is from 0 to
1/2 inch (0 to 13 mm) below the bottom of the
ller plug hole.
The proper level for the 1500 and 2500 Series
vehicles with QUADRASTEER™ (4-Wheel Steer) is
from 0 to 1/4 inch (0 to 6 mm) below the ller
plug hole.
Add only enough uid to reach the proper level.
What to Use
To determine what kind of lubricant to use see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Four-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section also apply to these
vehicles. However, there are two additional systems that
need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check transfer case uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
Manual Transfer Case
5-60