2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4WD

Manual Transfer Case
The transfer case shift lever is on the oor to the right
of the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
A 4WD indicator light
comes on when you shift
into four-wheel drive
and the front axle engages.
SeeFour-Wheel-Drive
Light on page 3-48.
Some delay between shifting and when the indicator
light comes on is normal.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2H 4H 4L N
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.
An indicator light near the lever shows you the transfer
case settings:
4L (Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages your
front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need
four-wheel low. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose four-wheel low if you are
driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, 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.
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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
Driving
ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2
mAUTO
4WD4m4nN
Normal YES
Variable YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in
Tow*YES
*See “Recreational Vehicle Towing” in the Index for
further information.
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You can choose among four driving settings:
AUTO 4WD:This setting is ideal for use when road
surface traction conditions are variable. When driving
your vehicle in AUTO four-wheel drive, the front axle is
engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear
wheels. When the vehicle detects a loss of traction, the
system will automatically engage four-wheel drive.
Driving in this mode results in slightly lower fuel
economy than Two-Wheel High.
2
m(Two-Wheel High):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.
{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
N (NEUTRAL) only when towing your vehicle.
SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-63or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-63for more information.
4
m(Four-Wheel High):Use this setting 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.
4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting also engages your
front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need
Four-Wheel Low. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you are
driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, 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 which setting your
transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on
briey 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.
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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

RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED
(Allison Transmission®Only)
If the transmission is unable to shift into a selected
gear, this message will appear on the DIC. The
electronic shift position indicator on the instrument panel
cluster may blink when this occurs. To make the
vehicle shift to the requested gear, you may have to
shift back to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and re-select
the desired gear.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
This message is displayed when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the engine further enters
the engine coolant protection mode.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-38for additional
information.
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR (Crew Cab)
If the passenger’s side rear door is not fully closed,
this message will appear on the display and you
will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstacles, and close the door again.
Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC.
Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if equipped,
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped with the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
SERVICE 4WD (Four-Wheel-Drive)
If a problem occurs with the four-wheel-drive system,
this message will appear on the DIC. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the
four-wheel-drive system needs service. See your
GM dealer.
SERVICE 4 WHEEL STEER
If a problem occurs with the four-wheel steer system,
this message will appear on the DIC. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the four-wheel
steer system needs service. See your GM dealer. See
QUADRASTEER™ on page 4-14for more information.
Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if equipped,
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped with the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
3-59

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
C-1500 Extended Cab Long Box (2WD)*
4800 V8 (Auto)3.23
3.735,800 lbs (2 631 kg)
6,800 lbs (3 084 kg)11,000 lbs (4 994 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.23
3.733,800 lbs (1 724 kg)
4,800 lbs (2 177 kg)9,000 lbs (4 086 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 540 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.736,800 lbs (3 084 kg)
7,800 lbs (3 538 kg)12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
* Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR
K-1500 Regular Cab Short Box (4WD)
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.73 5,100 lbs (2 313 kg) 10,000 lbs (4 540 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.73 4,100 lbs (1 860 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 086 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto)3.42
3.73
4.107,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
8,000 lbs (3 629 kg)12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
12,000 lbs (5 448 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual)3.42
3.73
4.105,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
5,000 lbs (2 268 kg)
6,000 lbs (2 722 kg)10,000 lbs (4 540 kg)
10,000 lbs (4 540 kg)
11,000 lbs (4 994 kg)
5300 V83.42
3.73
4.108,000 lbs (3 629 kg)
8,000 lbs (3 629 kg)
9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
13,000 lbs (5 902 kg)
14,000 lbs (6 356 kg)
* Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight 15 percent to 25 percent of trailer weight up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
maximum.
4-75