2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO brakes

THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) in a light duty
automatic transmission, the transmission will drive in
second gear. You may use this feature for reducing the
speed of the rear wheels when you are trying to start
your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission will not shift into rst
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder,
your transmission is designed to shift differently.
The transmission uses a warm-up mode shift schedule
until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
While the transmission is in warm-up mode it is
normal for transmission upshifts to be delayed or held
longer. This feature improves heater performance
by giving quicker vehicle warm-ups.
2-29

Tow/Haul Mode
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it may be
equipped with a Tow/Haul mode. The selector button
is located on the end of the column shift lever. You can
use this feature to assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. Turn Tow/Haul on and off by pressing the
button until the Tow/Haul indicator light illuminates
on the instrument panel.Tow/Haul is a feature on automatic transmission
equipped vehicles that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or large or heavy load. Tow/Haul mode adjusts
the transmission’s shift pattern to reduce shift cycling,
providing increased performance, vehicle control,
and transmission cooling when towing or hauling
heavy loads.
If your vehicle is equipped with an Allison
®transmission,
you may have both Tow/Haul mode and overdrive
disable. See “Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on page 4-69for more information.
Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission®Only)
Grade braking uses the engine and transmission to
slow a loaded vehicle on hills in addition to using the
brakes, saving on brake wear and increasing vehicle
stability. The Allison Transmission
®, when sensing
the driver’s desire to slow down while driving
downhill, will automatically shift to the next lower
gear range to assist in slowing down the vehicle.
2-30

Grade braking is active and automatic both in Tow/Haul
mode and normal shift mode. Grade braking is more
aggressive when in Tow/Haul mode and can
automatically downshift to SECOND (2), which is
different than grade braking while in normal shift mode
where automatic downshifts are limited to FOURTH (4).
The tachometer for both the diesel and gasoline
engine shows a dashed red zone and a solid red zone.
The dashed red zone indicates where a transmission
shift occurs for full engine power. When using grade
braking, the transmission’s shift point is adjusted to just
prior to the solid red zone, providing the benet of
additional engine braking.
Grade braking driving within the dashed red zone is
normal, both the diesel and gasoline engine have been
designed for this grade braking feature. Do not allow
the engine to go into the solid red zone. Apply the
vehicle’s brakes for a short time to slow down if you are
driving on a long hill and the tachometer needle
enters the solid red zone. SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-69for more information.Overdrive Disable
(Allison®Transmission Only)
If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®, you may
have the overdrive disable feature. The overdrive disable
feature prevents the transmission from shifting into
FIFTH (5) gear. The selector button is located on the
end of the column shift lever. You can turn overdrive
disable on and off by pressing and holding the button at
the end of the column shift lever until the indicator
light, on the instrument panel, illuminates.
If your vehicle has both Tow/Haul and overdrive disable,
tap the button once to enable or disable Tow/Haul,
and press and hold the button to enable or disable
overdrive disable.
2-31

Shift Speeds
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not shift down
more than one gear at a time when you
downshift.
Do not allow the engine rpm to overspeed and enter the
tachometer red lines. Engine overspeed occurs when
downshifting, or descending a grade, at too high a
vehicle speed. When going down steep grades, always
select a gear at least one position lower than you
would use on climbing a grade. This will allow the
vehicle’s engine to provide some braking and help
to slow the vehicle as it goes down the grade.Monitor your vehicle speed, acceleration and engine
rpm while applying the brakes as you go down the
grade to ensure you have complete control over
the vehicle.
If your engine speed drops below 600 rpm, or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift
to the next lower gear. When operating on slippery
surfaces, downshift at lower than normal vehicle speeds
to prevent the tires from slipping.
In bench seat equipped vehicles, move the tallest
beverage containers to the right cupholder to provide
additional clearance for the shift lever.
For vehicles equipped with a center console, the front
cup holder pulls out and turns 180° to provide additional
clearance between tall beverage containers and the
shift lever.
2-36

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 2-26and
Torque Lock underShifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-54.
If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission
®, the
transmission is equipped with a park pawl designed to
hold the higher weight of commercial medium duty
trucks. Therefore, the Allison Transmission
®uses larger
parts than other automatic transmissions. These
larger parts may sometimes make a clunk noise when
the selector lever is moved from DRIVE (D) or
REVERSE (R) to PARK (P). This is normal and there is
no damage occurring during these shifts.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.
2-54

If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The cruise symbol on the
instrument panel will
illuminate when the cruise
control is engaged.
3-11

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. You will also hear a chime
sound when the light is on steady. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes.
In addition to both lights, you will also hear a chime sound
on the rst occurrence of a problem and each time the
vehicle is shut off and then restarted. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-40.
Traction Off Light
If you have the Traction
Assist System, this light
should come on briey
when you turn the ignition
to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, the system may
require service; have it xed so it will be there to warn
you if the system is turned off.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are driving,
there may be a problem with your Traction Assist
System and your vehicle may need service. When this
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
3-41

SERVICE AIR BAG
If there is a problem with the airbag system, this
message will be displayed on the DIC. Have your
GM dealer inspect the system for problems. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 3-34andAirbag System on
page 1-63for 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.
SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER
If your vehicle has vacuum assist power brakes, this
message will be displayed on the DIC when there is a
problem with the Supplemental Brake Assist system.
If the message is displayed immediately after starting
the vehicle or the message appears while driving,
your Supplemental Brake Assist system needs service.
See your GM dealer. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-40for additional information.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER
message is displayed.
If the brake system warning light is also on,
you should have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-40.
If the brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but the supplemental
brake assist system on vehicles with rear disc
brakes may not operate properly. In the event
of a vacuum loss, you may not have vacuum
power assist for braking. The brake pedal
will be harder to push and it will take longer
to stop. If you continue to drive with this
message displayed it can lead to a crash.
Have the brake system serviced as soon as
possible.
3-60