2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
be provided for several seconds to remind people to
buckle their safety belts. The driver safety belt light will
also be provided and stay on for several seconds,
then it will ash for several more. You should buckle
your seat belt.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled and the
vehicle is in motion.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for
more information on driver and passenger safety
belt reminders.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor
the light will come on.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-80for
more information.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the airbag
sensors, the airbag modules, the passenger sensing
system (if equipped), the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more information on the
airbag system, seeAirbag System on page 1-71.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
This means the system
is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start
the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
3-33

Airbag Off Light
If your vehicle has an airbag off switch, it also has an
airbag off light. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78for
more on this, including important safety information.When you turn the right front passenger’s airbag off,
this light will come on and stay on to remind you that the
airbag has been turned off. This light will go off when
you turn the airbag on.
{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned
off for a person who is not in a risk group
identied by the national government, that
person will not have the extra protection of an
airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able to
inate and help protect the person sitting
there. Do not turn off the passenger’s airbag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78for
more on this, including important safety
information. United States
Canada
3-34

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the airbag, it means
that something may be wrong with the airbag
system. The right front passenger’s airbag
could inate even though the switch is off.
If your vehicle is a regular cab pickup and this
ever happens, do not let anyone whom the
national government has identied as a
member of a passenger airbag risk group sit
in the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If your vehicle is an extended cab pickup and
this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identied as a
member of the passenger airbag risk group sit
in the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced.
3-35

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system, your
rearview mirror will have a passenger airbag status
indicator.When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and
OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
Your vehicle may have a label on your sun visor that
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is
so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is failsafe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in the rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator — United States
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator — Canada
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Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the
right front passenger seat the unless passenger
airbag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear
facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat
unless the airbag is off. Here is why:
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be transported
in vehicles with a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
whenever possible.If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right
front passenger’s seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned off
the passenger’s frontal airbag. A child in a
rear-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger’s
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.
3-37

If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the passenger
sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s
airbag. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-80
orAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78for more on this,
including important safety information.
{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned
off for a person who is not in a risk group
identied by the national government, that
person will not have the extra protection of an
airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able to
inate and help protect the person sitting
there. Do not turn off the passenger’s airbag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78for
more on this, including important safety
information.If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger seat may not have the protection
of the airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 3-33.
3-38

Battery Warning Light
If this light is displayed
when the engine is
running, you may have
a problem with your
charging system.
The battery display will also stay on while the key is in
RUN until the engine is started.
If the light stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or some
other charging system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving with this light displayed could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories,
such as the radio and the air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition
is in RUN, this gage shows
your battery’s state of
charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The gage may
transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher
reading, this is normal. Readings between the low and
high warning zones indicate the normal operating
range. The voltmeter gage may also read lower when
in fuel economy mode. This is normal.
3-39

Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power
at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading
in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.Up-Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
This light is used on some
models with manual
transmissions.
The shift indicator light will show you when to shift to
the next highest gear, and will help you get the best fuel
economy.
3-40