2008 CHEVROLET KODIAK fuel

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
..............................................1-10
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-28
Airbag System
.........................................1-48
Restraint System Check
............................1-60
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-6
Windows
.................................................. 2-8
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-10
Mirrors
....................................................2-51
Storage Areas
.........................................2-53
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-24
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-47
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-24Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-4
Fuel
......................................................... 5-7
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-22
Rear Axle
...............................................5-72
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-73
Front Axle
...............................................5-74
Noise Control System
...............................5-75
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-76
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-76
Other Service Items
..................................5-78
Tires
......................................................5-82
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identification
...............................5-101
Electrical System
....................................5-102
Capacities and Specifications
...................5-109
Maintenance Replacement Parts
...............5-115
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2008 Chevrolet Kodiak Owner ManualM

While your engine is idling and before you turn it off,
you can make a list of any operational or handling
concerns to give to responsible maintenance personnel
so they can handle them right away.
Moisture will condense in a fuel tank that is almost
empty if the engine has not run for a while, even just
overnight under some conditions. So, it is always best to
refuel your vehicle at the end of each run.
Starting the Diesel Engine
Your vehicle’s diesel engine starts differently than a
gasoline engine. Read the following pages to learn how
to start, restart, warm-up, and stop your diesel engine.
The information applies to Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine,
6.6L DURAMAX®Diesel Engine, Isuzu 6H Diesel
Engine, unless otherwise noted.
If you have a Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine, also refer to
your Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation &
Maintenance Manual for the starting procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). The
engine will not start in any other position — that is a
safety feature. To restart when you are already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
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
Move the shift lever to NEUTRAL and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the engine. Your vehicle
will not start if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down — that is a safety feature.
2-14

Starting Your Engine
1. Turn your ignition key to RUN.
Observe the wait to start light. SeeWait to Start
Indicator on page 3-36. This light may not come on
if the engine is hot.
If you have a Caterpillar
®diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for proper wait to start light operation.
2. As soon as the wait to start light goes off,
immediately turn the ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the key.
If your vehicle is equipped with a DURAMAX
®6600
Diesel Engine, it has a fast warm-up glow plug
system. The wait to start light will illuminate for a
much shorter time than most diesel engines, due to
the rapid heating of the glow plug system.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.Notice:If the wait to start light stays on after
starting your vehicle, your vehicle may not run
properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds
of cranking, turn the ignition key to OFF. Wait
one minute for the starter to cool, then try the same
steps again.
If you are trying to start your engine after you have run
out of fuel, seeRunning Out of Fuel on page 5-17.
When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes
before you move your vehicle. This lets oil pressure
build up. Your engine will sound louder when it is cold.
Notice:If you are not in an idling vehicle and
the engine overheats, you would not be there to see
the overheated engine indication. This could
damage your vehicle. Do not let your engine run
when you are not in your vehicle.
2-15

Cold Weather Starting
If your vehicle has the 6.6L DURAMAX®Diesel Engine
and the Isuzu 6H Diesel Engine, the following notice
applies:
Notice:Your diesel engine has an electric air
intake heater system which reduces white smoke
and helps start the engine in cold weather. Do
not spray starting uid into the air intake where it
can contact the heater elements.
If you do not have the GM Automatic Ether Injection
System, do not use starting uid or you could
damage your engine. If you have the GM system,
use only GM approved starting uid that has
been tested to establish compatibility with the air
inlet heater system.
The following tips will help you get good starting in cold
weather.
•Use the recommended engine oil when the outside
temperature drops below freezing. SeeEngine Oil
(Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine) on page 5-23or
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-24or
Engine Oil (DURAMAX
®Diesel Engine) on
page 5-28orEngine Oil (Isuzu Diesel Engine) on
page 5-32. When the outside temperature drops
below 0°F (−18°C), use of the optional engine
coolant block heater is recommended.
•If you experience longer cranking times, notice an
unusual amount of exhaust smoke or are at
higher altitudes (over 7,000 ft. or 2 135 m), you may
use your optional engine coolant block heater.
SeeEngine Coolant Heater on page 2-25.
•SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 5-9for information
on what fuel to use in cold weather.
Cold Weather Starting (Caterpillar®
Diesel)
Because the diesel engine uses compression ignition, it
is harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline
engine. The air intake heater and use of the proper
engine oil, optional engine coolant heaters and optional
ether injection systems help cold weather starting.
See the Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine Operation &
Maintenance Manual for more information.
Restarting the Diesel Engine While
Moving (Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you will first have to shift to NEUTRAL (N). This
safety feature prevents starting the engine when the
transmission is in a drive gear for more information.
2-16

Stopping the Diesel Engine
1. Apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake (With
Hydraulic Brakes) on page 2-38orParking Brake
(With Air Brakes) on page 2-41for parking
brake apply procedure.
2. Shift into NEUTRAL for a manual transmission or
PARK (P) for an automatic transmission.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
If your vehicle has a two-speed axle, see
Two-Speed Rear Axle on page 2-27.
If you have a Caterpillar
®diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for additional information.
Diesel Engine Warm-Up
Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
warms up. These can include outside temperature,
engine load, idle time and your vehicle’s option content.
Your vehicle may be equipped with some features
that can help the engine reach operating temperature
sooner. Some of these features are discussed below.Also, remember that an automatic transmission adds
heat to the cooling system through the heat exchanger in
the radiator. Because of this, vehicles equipped with
automatic transmissions are often able to retain engine
coolant heat better than manual transmission vehicles.
See your Caterpillar
®Operation & Maintenance manual
for additional diesel engine warm-up information.
If Your Diesel Engine Will Not Start
If you have run out of fuel, seeRunning Out of Fuel on
page 5-17.
If you are not out of fuel, and your engine will not start,
do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. Immediately after the wait
to start light goes off, turn the ignition key to START.
If the light does not go off, wait a few seconds, then try
starting your engine again. And, see your dealer/retailer
as soon as you can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes off and you know
your batteries are charged, but your engine still will not
start, your vehicle needs service.
2-17

If the light does not come on when the engine is cold,
your vehicle needs service.
If your batteries do not have enough charge to start
your engine, seeBattery on page 5-66.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that
you have changed the oil at the proper times. If you
use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder to start.
Be sure you are using the proper fuel for existing
weather conditions. SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 5-9.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops,
your vehicle needs service.
{CAUTION:
Do not use gasoline or starting aids, such as
ether, in the air intake. They could damage
your engine. There could also be a re, which
could cause serious personal injury.
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown
Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature, and a low or
high engine oil pressure. If high engine temperature
is detected, you will hear a tone alarm at two beats per
second. If a low or high engine oil pressure is
detected, you will also hear a tone alarm at two beats
per second. The alarm and the light will remain on until
the condition is fixed. If the engine temperature or oil
pressure condition worsens, the tone alarm will go to
five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in about 25 to 30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. SeeEngine Shutdown
Warning Light on page 3-39.
2-18

Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater, if available, can help in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C) for easier
starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least four hours before
starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Find the plug-in outlet located under the
driver’s door.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer/retailer in the area where you will be
parking your vehicle. The dealer/retailer can give you
the best advice for that particular area.
2-25

Two-Speed Rear Axle
The Two-Speed rear axle lets the driver select Low
Range and High Range. Low Range provides good
starting torque and pulling power. When selecting High
Range the axle allows for higher road speed and
fuel economy.
For better performance during off-road or under a heavy
load, shift the axle into Low Range and then operate
the transmission normally.
For better performance on the highway, shift the axle to
High Range and operate the transmission normally.
High or Low Range can be used when additional shifts
between transmission gears is needed while driving
on grades and for better fuel economy.
Notice:Driving in Low Range above 50 mph
(80.5 kph) will damage driveline components. Drive
below 50 mph (80.5 kph) in Low Range.
If your vehicle has this feature, there is a label on the
headliner above the windshield or in another place near
the driver that shows how to use it. Be sure to follow
the directions carefully.
Two-Speed Rear Axle Shift Control
Operation
The rear axle shift control
switch for automatic and
manual transmissions
is located in the instrument
panel switchbank.
Press the bottom of the switch for High Range and the
top of the switch for Low Range. The switch indicator
light comes on when the High Range is selected.
Always start your vehicle in motion with the two-speed
axle in low range.
Shifting on a Downgrade
Do not shift the two-speed axle when driving on a
downgrade. The speed of the vehicle moving downhill
may make it hard to shift the axle into either Low or
High Range.
2-27