2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

It will stay on 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 message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for further
information.
Shifting into Four-Wheel High or
AUTO 4WD (AUTO Four-Wheel Drive)
Press and release the four-wheel high or AUTO 4WD
switch. This can be done at any speed, except
when shifting from Four-Wheel Low, and the indicator
light will ash while shifting. It will remain on when
the shift is completed.
Shifting into Two-Wheel High
Press and release the Two-Wheel High switch.
This can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel Low.
Shifting into Four-Wheel Low
Notice:Shifting the transfer case into four-wheel
low while moving at speeds faster than 3 mph
(5 km/h) may cause premature wear to the transfer
case, and may cause the gears to grind. To avoid
causing premature wear, and grinding the gears, do
not shift the transfer case into four-wheel low while
the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h).
To shift to Four-Wheel Low, the ignition must be in RUN
and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
The preferred method for shifting into four-wheel low
is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to
3.2 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel Low
switch. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator
light to stop ashing and remain on before shifting
your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
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It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from
NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running.
If the Four-Wheel Low switch is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds and not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
After 30 seconds the transfer case will shift to
four-wheel high mode.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to Four-Wheel High,
AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in
RUN. The preferred method for shifting out of
Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the
Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High
switch. You must wait for the Four-Wheel High,
AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High indicator light to stop
ashing and remain on before shifting your transmission
into gear.Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
The transfer case may make noise and the vehicle
may jerk when the transfer case is shifted between
Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from
NEUTRAL with the engine running.
If the four-wheel high, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High
switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or
moving, the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or
Two-Wheel High indicator light will ash for 30 seconds
but will not complete the shift unless your vehicle is
moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission
is in NEUTRAL (N).
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Shifting Into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
6. Simultaneously press and hold the Two-Wheel High
and Four-Wheel Low buttons for 10 seconds.
The red NEUTRAL light will come on when the
transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. If the engine is running, shift the transmission to
REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the
transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second,
or FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission.
8. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to
ACCESSORY.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
10. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Press the button for the desired transfer case
shift position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel
High, AUTO 4WD, or Four-Wheel Low).
5. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. 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.
2-45

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.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2m4m4nN
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-63for further
information.
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You can chose among three driving settings:
2
m(Two-Wheel High):This setting is for driving in
most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not
engaged in two-wheel drive.
{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. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51.
(N) NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-63for more information.
4
m(Four-Wheel High):This setting engages your
front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use four-wheel high
when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy
roads, or in most off-road situations.4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages your
front axle to give you extra traction. You may never need
Four-Wheel Low. It sends the maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you were
driving off-road in sand, mud or deep snow and while
climbing or descending steep hills. When operating in
Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional torque
when compared to four-wheel high. The transmission
gear shift feel will be exaggerated.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey 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. Fast ashing means the conditions were not met
to make the desired shift, typically the vehicle was
going too fast, the automatic transmission was not in
neutral, or the clutch pedal was not fully depressed.
Slow ashing means the shift is in progress. It will stay on
when the shift is completed. If for some reason the
transfer cannot make a requested shift, it will return to
the last chosen setting.
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Shifting from Two-Wheel High to
Four-Wheel High
Press and release the Four-Wheel High switch.
This can be done at any speed, and the front axle will
lock automatically with some delay.
Shifting from Four-Wheel High to
Two-Wheel High
Press and release the Two-Wheel High switch.
This can be done at any speed, and the front axle will
unlock automatically with some delay.
It is normal to hear and feel your vehicle’s transfer case
shift into Four-Wheel Low. If you shift with the vehicle
stopped, the indicator light may remain ashing
slowly. It may be necessary to shift the transmission
momentarily into REVERSE (R) and DRIVE (D),
for an automatic transmission, or REVERSE (R) and
FIRST (1) for a manual transmission to have the
light stop ashing.
Shifting from Two-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel High to Four-Wheel Low
Notice:Shifting the transfer case into four-wheel
low while moving at speeds faster than 3 mph
(5 km/h) may cause premature wear to the transfer
case, and may cause the gears to grind. To avoid
causing premature wear, and grinding the gears, do
not shift the transfer case into four-wheel low while
the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h).
To shift from Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel High to
Four-Wheel Low, the vehicle must be stopped or moving
less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission or the
clutch pedal depressed for a manual transmission.
The preferred method for shifting into four-wheel low is
to have your vehicle moving 3 mph (5 km/h).
Press and release the Four-Wheel Low switch.
You must wait for the four-wheel low indicator light
to stop ashing and stay on before shifting your
transmission into gear or releasing the clutch pedal.
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Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
If the Four-Wheel Low switch is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds and not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving slower than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
The transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel High while
waiting to complete the shift.
Shifting from Four-Wheel Low to
Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel High
To shift from four-wheel low to Four-Wheel High or
Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission or the
clutch pedal depressed for a manual transmission.
The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low
is to have your vehicle moving 3 mph (5 km/h).Press and release the Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel
High switch. You must wait for the Two-Wheel High
or Four-Wheel High indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting your transmission into
gear or releasing the clutch pedal.
If the Four-Wheel High switch is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel High
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless the vehicle is moving slower
than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N).
{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. SeeParking Brake on page 2-51.
2-49

Shifting into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, rst make sure
the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
3. Press the foot brake pedal and put the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
5. Simultaneously press and hold the Two-Wheel High
and Four-Wheel Low buttons for 10 seconds.
The red NEUTRAL light will come on when the
transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
6. Start the engine if it is not already running.
7. Press and hold the foot brake pedal and Shift the
transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second,
then shift the transmission for one second to
DRIVE (D) for an automatic transmission, or
FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission and then let out the clutch. This is to
ensure the transfer case is in NEUTRAL. If not,
repeat this procedure starting at Step 3.
8. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to
ACCESSORY.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P) for
an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
10. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and press and hold the
regular brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) for an
automatic transmission, or press the clutch pedal for
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
Then turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High, or
Four-Wheel Low).
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.
7. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
2-50