2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO warning

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE or
the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant condition, can
indicate a serious problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 447.If you get the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE message with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on, turn
it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. If you are stopped in a traffic jam, apply the
brake, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to
the highest gear while driving — DRIVE (D) or
THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
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If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle immediately.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle
has an engine-driven cooling fan, push down
the accelerator until the engine speed is about
twice as fast as normal idle speed for at least
ve minutes while you are parked.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle
has an electric cooling fan, idle the engine for
ve minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode (V8 Engines Only)
If an overheated engine condition exists and
the REDUCED ENGINE POWER message
is displayed, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this mode, you will
notice a loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated
engine protection operating mode, to avoid
engine damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 502.
520

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. Remove the coolant
surge tank pressure
cap when the
cooling system,
including the coolant
surge tank
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
about one full turn. If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left.
524

Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 605.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and could have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specications on
page 620.
531

Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 500for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 534for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
533

{CAUTION:
If you operate your vehicle with a tire that
is badly underinated, the tire can
overheat. An overheated tire can lose air
suddenly or catch re. You or others
could be injured. Be sure all tires
(including the spare) are properly inated.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 561, for
information on proper tire ination.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses
radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure
levels. If your vehicle has this feature, sensors
are mounted on each tire and wheel assembly,
except the spare tire. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.The TPMS is designed to alert the driver, if a low
tire pressure condition exists. If your vehicle has the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the driver may also
check tire pressure levels using the DIC.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol located on the instrument panel
cluster. If your vehicle has the DIC feature, a
message to check the pressure in a specic tire
will also appear on the DIC display. The low
tire pressure warning symbol on the instrument
panel cluster and the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning message on the DIC display will appear at
each ignition cycle until the tires are inated to
the correct ination pressure. For additional
information and details about the DIC operation
and displays seeDIC Operation and Displays
(With DIC Buttons) on page 270orDIC Operation
and Displays (Without DIC Buttons) on page 277
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 281.
563

Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will ash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal low
tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may
occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning message
and low tire pressure light (telltale) will come
on each time the vehicle is started until the tires
are inated to the correct ination pressure.
The Tire and Loading Information label (tire
information placard) shows the size of your
vehicle’s original tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they
are cold. SeeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 561. For the location of the tire and loading
information label, seeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 427.
Your vehicle’s TPMS can alert you about a low
tire pressure condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 568andTires on page 552.
Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your
vehicle has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid
sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor
sensors.
565

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim anges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those
that do not have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle’s original tires.Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure
warning if non-TPC spec rated tires are installed
on your vehicle. Non-TPC Spec rated tires
may give a low-pressure warning that is higher or
lower than the proper warning level you would
get with TPC Spec rated tires. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 563.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed
on the Tire and Loading Information Label.
This label is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar
(B-pillar). SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 427,
for more information about the Tire and Loading
Information Label and its location on your vehicle.
573