Range Selection Mode
(Allison Transmission®)
If your truck has an Allison Transmission®your
vehicle has a Range Selection System.
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 select the
desired range of gears for your current
driving conditions.
The Range Selection Mode allows you to
control the 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 265
andDIC Operation and Displays on page 266
for more information.
While using the Range Selection mode, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
Grade braking is not available while in the Range
Selection mode. SeeTow/Haul Mode on
page 147for more information.
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Tow/Haul Mode (Allison
Transmission®)
If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®,it
may have a Tow/Haul mode. Tow/Haul mode
adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce
shift cycling, providing increased performance,
vehicle control, and transmission cooling
when towing or hauling heavy loads.The selector button is located on the end of the shift
lever. Turn the 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 264for more
information.
Also see “Tow Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on page 429for 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 using 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.
148
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 217for more
information.
The Tow/Haul mode and Grade Braking shift
modes can be activated by pressing the button on
the end 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 range of gears.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on
page 140for more information.
Also seeTowing a Trailer on page 429for more
information.
Manual Transmission Operation
Five-Speed
(VORTEC™ 6.0L V8 Engine)
Here is how to operate
your transmission.
FIRST (1) is intended only for heavy loads or
trailer towing and is not recommended for normal
driving.
During the rst 500 miles (805 km) of vehicle use,
start your vehicle moving in FIRST (1). This
allows clutch components to break-in properly.
149
Instrument Panel Overview........................ 210
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 212
Other Warning Devices............................. 213
Horn.......................................................... 213
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 213
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 214
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 214
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 215
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 216
Windshield Wipers..................................... 216
Windshield Washer.................................... 217
Cruise Control........................................... 217
Headlamps................................................ 221
Headlamps on Reminder........................... 222
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)................. 222
Automatic Headlamp System..................... 223
Fog Lamps................................................ 225
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp.................... 226
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 226
Dome Lamps............................................. 226
Dome Lamp Override................................ 227
Entry Lighting............................................ 227
Exit Lighting.............................................. 227Front Reading Lamps................................ 227
Cargo Lamp.............................................. 228
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 228
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 229
Climate Controls......................................... 230
Climate Control System............................. 230
Dual Climate Control System..................... 231
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.... 235
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 243
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 244
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 245
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 246
Trip Odometer........................................... 246
Tachometer............................................... 246
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 247
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 247
Airbag Off Light......................................... 248
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 250
Battery Warning Light................................ 253
Voltmeter Gage......................................... 253
Up-Shift Light (Manual Transmission)........ 254
Brake System Warning Light..................... 254
Section 3 Instrument Panel
207
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...... 255
Traction Off Light...................................... 256
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 256
Transmission Temperature Gage............... 257
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 258
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 262
Security Light............................................ 263
Cruise Control Light.................................. 263
Highbeam On Light................................... 263
Four-Wheel-Drive Light.............................. 263
Tow/Haul Mode Light................................ 264
Cargo Lamp Light..................................... 264
Fuel Gage................................................. 264
Low Fuel Warning Light............................ 265
Driver Information Center (DIC).................. 265
DIC Operation and Displays...................... 266
DIC Warnings and Messages.................... 270
DIC Vehicle Customization........................ 282Audio System(s)......................................... 289
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................... 290
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................... 291
AM-FM Radio............................................ 291
Radio with CD........................................... 294
Radio with Cassette and CD..................... 304
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................. 318
XM Radio Messages................................. 332
Rear Seat Entertainment System............... 334
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)............................. 347
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................. 348
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.................. 349
Radio Reception........................................ 350
Care of the Cassette Tape Player............. 350
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.................... 352
Care of the CD and DVD Player............... 352
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 353
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System....... 353
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 353
Section 3 Instrument Panel
208
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane Change Signals. See
Turn and Lane-Change Signals on page 214.
53Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on
page 215.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on
page 216.
NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 216.
LWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield
Washer on page 217.
ICruise Control. SeeCruise Control on
page 217.
For information on the headlamps, seeHeadlamps
on page 221.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will
return automatically.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever
for less than one second until the arrow starts
to ash. This will cause the turn signals to
automatically ash three times. It will ash six
times if tow-haul mode is active. Holding the turn
signal lever for more than one second will
cause the turn signals to ash until you release
the lever. The lever will return by itself when
it is released.
214