2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO brake

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Delayed Locking.............................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab).............2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-12
Rear Doors..................................................2-13
Tailgate.......................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-15
Manual Windows..........................................2-15
Power Windows............................................2-16
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-17
Sliding Rear Window.....................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-17
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-18
Passlock
®....................................................2-19Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-20
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-20
Ignition Positions..........................................2-20
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-22
Starting the Engine.......................................2-22
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-23
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-24
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-30
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-32
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-36
Parking Brake..............................................2-49
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-50
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-52
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)...............................2-53
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-53
Engine Exhaust............................................2-54
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-54
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-67for the trailer towing
capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to
four different positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If
it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
2-20

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
If the vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP),
certain features will continue to operate for up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to LOCK
unless a door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Your vehicle is equipped with Starter Motor Control.
This feature assists in starting the engine and protects
the electrical system. This feature may cause the
engine to crank even after the ignition key is
not in START
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. If you have a diesel
engine refer to the diesel supplement for the starting
procedure.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the oor
and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down — that is a safety
feature.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will disengage the starter
motor, cause your battery to be drained much
sooner, and add excessive heat that can damage
your starter motor. Try not to hold the key in START
for longer than 15 seconds and wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it does not start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the oor, while
you hold the ignition key in START. When
the engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the
accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
2-22

PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily. If your
vehicle has the Allison Transmission
®, with the Power
Takeoff (PTO), use PARK (P) when starting. The
Allison Transmission
®has a park pawl that is designed
to hold the 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. When
parked on a hill, especially when loaded, you may notice
an increase in the effort to shift out of Park. See
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission) underShifting
Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-50for
more information.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-50. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-67.
2-25

{CAUTION:
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll — even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear, two-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel
high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in
NEUTRAL. SeeShifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-50.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up. If your vehicle
has the Allison Transmission
®, the R on the shift
display, may blink if the shift inhibitor is active.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging your transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow
on page 4-46.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
2-26

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 an automatic
transmission, the transmission will start 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 shift 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.Range Selection Mode
(Allison Transmission®)
If your truck has an Allison Transmission®your vehicle
is equipped with a Range Selection System.
2-28

To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever to the MANUAL MODE (M).
When in the MANUAL MODE, the transmission’s
current gear range will be the highest attainable
range with all the lower gears available.
2. Press the plus/minus buttons to upshift or downshift
selecting the desired range of gears for your current
driving conditions.
The Range Selection Mode allows you to control the
vehicle’s engine and vehicle speed while driving
down hill by allowing you to select a desired gear.
The DIC shows the six available ranges with the highest
attainable range shown in brackets. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-51andDIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-52for more
information.
While using the Range Selection mode feature, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
Low Traction Mode
(Allison Transmission®)
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX®diesel engine and
the Allison Transmission®, it is equipped with a Low
Traction Mode that assists in vehicle acceleration when
road conditions are slippery, such as ice or snow.While at a stop, selecting the second gear range using
the Range Selection system, will allow the Allison
Transmission
®to limit torque to the wheels after it
detects wheel slip, preventing the tires from spinning.
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.
Cold Weather Operation
(Allison Transmission®)
On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder, your
automatic 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.
When temperatures are below−13°F (−25°C), the
transmission will prevent certain operations to protect
against damage. When active the DIC will display
the message “Trans in Warm-up”.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for
more information.
2-29

The selector button is located on the end of the shift
lever. Turn the Turn Tow/Haul on and off by pressing the
button. When the Tow/Haul is on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster will come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-49for more
information.
Also see “Tow Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer on
page 4-67for more information.
Grade Braking and Cruise Grade
Braking (Allison Transmission®)
Grade Braking and Cruise Grade Braking assists when
driving on a downhill grade. It maintains the vehicle’s
speed by automatically implementing a shift schedule
that uses the engine and the transmission to slow
the vehicle. This reduces wear on the brakes system
and increases control of the vehicle. The system
constantly monitors the vehicle’s speed, acceleration,
engine torque, and brake pedal usage. It detects
when the truck is on a downhill grade and the driver’s
desire to slow down by pressing the brake.Cruise Grade Braking is available on the 6.6L
DURAMAX
®diesel engine. Cruise Grade Braking
monitors a vehicle’s cruise state, engine torque,
acceleration, vehicle speed, and the cruise set speed.
Using this information, it detects when the truck is
accelerating on a downhill grade and will automatically
downshift to slow the vehicle if it exceeds the cruise
set speed by a certain amount.
SeeCruise Control on page 3-10for more information.
The Tow/Haul mode and Grade Braking shift modes
can be activated by pressing the button on the front
of the shift control stalk. If your vehicle has the
DURAMAX
®Diesel Engine or the 8.1L VORTEC™
gasoline engine, Grade Braking is only available while
the Tow/Haul Mode is selected. While in the Range
Selection Mode, Grade Braking is deactivated allowing
the driver to select a desired gear.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-24for
more information.
Also seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-67for more
information.
2-31