2008 CHEVROLET KODIAK Owners Manual

Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will know how
fast you are going, about how much fuel is left and many other things you will need to drive safely and economically.
Isuzu 6H Diesel Engine shown, 6.6L & 7.2L Diesel and Gasoline Engine similar
3-25

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
While the engine is running, press the reset button,
located to the right of the trip odometer, to toggle
between the trip odometer and the regular odometer.
Holding the reset button for two seconds while the
engine is running and the trip odometer is displayed,
will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.
The hourmeter gage is accessed through the trip
odometer, for more information seeHourmeter Gage
on page 3-46.
Tachometer
This gage shows the safe operating range for the
engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).7.2L Caterpillar
®Diesel
Engine and Isuzu
6H Diesel EnginesGasoline and
6.6L DURAMAX®
Diesel Engines
3-26

Engine Speed Limiter
All engines have electronic engine speed limiting.
The engine limited speeds range between
2,900 and 4,400 rpm depending on engine option
content.
Engine Road Speed Governor
This system controls maximum vehicle speed
automatically and reduces engine power until vehicle
speed gets down to maximum governed speed.
The default setting for C4500 and C5500 models up to
19,500 lbs GVWR is 80 to 85 mph (128 to 136 km/h).
Most other models have a default setting of 75 mph
(120 km/h), although some tire sizes and tread
patterns may limit maximum speed to 55 to 65 mph
(86 to 105 km/h). You may have a label on the headliner
of your vehicle with more information on your engine
road speed governor. See your GM dealer for
assistance with programming your engine limited speed.
Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a light will come on for
several seconds to remind people to fasten their
safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds.
Safety Belt Reminder Tone
If your vehicle has this feature, when the engine is
started, a tone will sound for several seconds to remind
people to fasten their safety belts.
3-27

Airbag Readiness Light
If your vehicle has airbags, there is an airbag readiness
light on the instrument panel, 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 wiring, the
passenger airbag suppression circuit and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on
the airbag system, seeAirbag System on page 1-48.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for
a few seconds. Then the
light should go out.
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.The airbag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the airbag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
3-28

Airbag Off Light
If your vehicle has an airbag on-off switch, it also has
a passenger airbag status indicator located in the
instrument panel.
When you manually turn the right front passenger’s
airbag off using the airbag on-off switch on the
instrument panel, the indicator light OFF or the off
symbol 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. SeeAirbag Off Switch on
page 1-56for 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
identied by the national government.
SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-56for more on
this, including important safety information.
3-29

{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 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 the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced. See
Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56andAirbag
Readiness Light on page 3-28for more on this,
including important safety information.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit, it means that
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled
(may inflate). SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-56for
more on this, including important safety information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
may be located in the
instrument panel cluster, or
with the auxiliary warning
lights in the center of
the instrument panel.
It should come on briefly when you turn on the ignition,
before the engine is running, as a check to show
that it is working.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked right away. You could have a loose
generator drive belt or some other problem.
Driving while this light is on will drain your battery. If you
must drive a short distance with the light on, turn off
your radio and other accessories. Sustained driving with
a generator failure could result in a lack of back-up
braking if the engine quits or the power steering pump
should fail.
3-30

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is
running, the voltmeter
gage shows the charging
system voltage.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
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 may not be able to provide full power
at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself because higher engine
speeds allow the charging system to create maximum
power.
You can only drive a short time on the battery. Be sure
to shut off the radio, the fan or any unnecessary
accessories and have the system serviced.
Service Transmission Warning Light
If your vehicle has an Allison®automatic transmission,
certain transmission malfunctions will turn this light on.
This light is located with
the auxiliary warning lights
in the center of the
instrument panel.
If this light comes on while you are driving, do not use
the transmission shift control or you may lose forward
gears. The computer for the transmission senses
a problem and chooses a gear to stay in so that you
can drive the vehicle in that gear. You may not be able
to drive as fast or back up when this light is on.
Notice:If you continue driving your vehicle after the
transmission warning light comes on, you could
damage the transmission. While this light is on, the
transmission cannot operate in all gears. If you
attempt to shift gears, the vehicle may not continue
to move. Do not attempt to shift gears while the
transmission warning light is on. Instead, drive
directly to an authorized dealer for service. If you
cannot drive to a dealer immediately, have the
vehicle towed.
3-31

Range Inhibit Warning Indicator
If your vehicle has an Allison 1000/2200/2300/2500 series
automatic transmission, a lighted bar under the current
gear selected will flash.
If your vehicle has an Allison 3000/3500 series
automatic transmission, the current gear selected on
the pushbutton display will flash.
The flashing bar or gear selection indicates that
transmission range shifts may not occur.
For detailed information on shift inhibit limitations, see
the Allison Automatic Transmission Operator’s Manual in
your vehicle for further information.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle has either hydraulic or air brakes.
Each system has different warning lights.
Hydraulic Brake System Warning Lights
Vehicles with hydraulic brake systems have two brake
system warning lights on the instrument panel.
If the brake warning light
comes on, it means that
the fluid level in the master
cylinder reservoir is low or
there is another problem
with your hydraulic brakes.
When it comes on, you will also hear a warning tone.
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it does not come on, then have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
The brake warning light may come on, and the warning
tone may sound, when you are turning and braking
at the same time. This is normal. See “Hydraulic Brake
Systems” underBraking on page 4-4.
3-32