2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO engine

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle. The pictures help to locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As the
details show on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briey when you start the engine just to let you
know they are working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when there
is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
as you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s
advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly and even
dangerous. So please get to know your vehicle’s
warning lights and gages. They can be a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center (DIC)
that works along with warning lights and gages.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66for
more information.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument 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 you have and many other things you will need to know to drive safely and
economically. If your vehicle has the DURAMAX
®Diesel engine, see the DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more
information.United States Light Duty Premium version shown. Canada, Uplevel, Base, Heavy Duty Clusters similar.
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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).
Engine Hour Meter Display
The Driver Information Center (DIC) can also display
the number of hours the engine has run. To display the
engine hours, turn the ignition off, press and hold the
reset button for at least four seconds. The hour meter
will be displayed for up to 30 seconds, or until the
ignition is turned on. SeeDIC Operation and Displays
(With DIC Buttons) on page 3-57orDIC Operation
and Displays (Without DIC Buttons) on page 3-63for
more information.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle
has been driven since you last set the trip odometer
to zero.
Press the reset button, located on the instrument panel
cluster next to the voltmeter, to toggle between the
trip odometer and the regular odometer. Holding the
reset button for approximately one second while
the trip odometer is displayed will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.
SeeDIC Operation and Displays (With DIC Buttons)
on page 3-57orDIC Operation and Displays (Without
DIC Buttons) on page 3-63for more information.
Tachometer
Your tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm). See “Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission
®)” underTow/Haul Mode on
page 2-34for more information.
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Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime will sound for
several seconds to remind people to buckle their safety
belts. The driver safety belt light will also come on
and stay on for several seconds, then it will ash for
several more. You should buckle your seat belt.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled and the
vehicle is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor the
light will come on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
For vehicles with Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Lights, several seconds after the engine is started, a
chime will sound for several seconds to remind the front
passenger to buckle their safety belt. This would only
occur if the passenger airbag is enabled. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-81for more information.
The passenger safety belt light will also come on
and stay on for several seconds, then it will ash for
several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
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Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, 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
sensor, the pretensioners, the airbag modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 1-69.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. The light
should go out and 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.{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.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few seconds
when you start the engine. If the light does not come on
then, have it xed immediately. If there is a problem with
the airbag system, an airbag Driver Information Center
(DIC) message may also come on. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-66for more information.
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Charging System Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn on
the ignition key, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show
you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system Driver
Information Center (DIC) message may also appear.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66
for more information. This light could indicate that there
are problems with a generator drive belt, or that
there is an electrical problem. Have it checked right
away. If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all the accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
Your vehicle may have a
voltmeter gage.
When the ignition is on, this gage indicates the
battery voltage.
When the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The gage may
transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher
reading, this is normal. If the vehicle is operating outside
the normal operating range, the charging system light
will come on. SeeCharging System Light on page 3-45
for more information. The voltmeter gage may also
read lower when in fuel economy mode. This is normal.
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Readings outside the normal operating range may also
occur when a large number of electrical accessories
are operating in the vehicle and the engine is left idling
for an extended period. This condition is normal
since the charging system is not able to provide full
power at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased,
this condition should correct itself as higher engine
speeds allow the charging system to create maximum
power.
You can only drive for a short time with the readings
outside the normal operating range. If you must
drive, turn off all unnecessary accessories.
Readings outside the normal operating range indicate
a possible problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will
come on when you set the parking brake. If you try to
drive with the parking brake engaged, a chime will sound
when the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on and a chime sounds there
could be a brake problem. Have your brake system
inspected right away.
This light may also come on due to low brake uid.
SeeBrakes on page 5-43for more information.
United States
Canada
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This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push or may go closer to the oor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-50.
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briey when the engine
is started.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, your vehicle still has brakes, but
not antilock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, your vehicle does not have antilock
brakes and there is a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-46.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66for all
brake related DIC messages.
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