2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO jump start

Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P) with the shift lever button
fully released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
PARK (P), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN
or ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If your vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery
with low voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-47for more
information.To shift out of PARK (P) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of PARK (P):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have your
vehicle serviced soon.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
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Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-5
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)..........................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (Gasoline Engines).....5-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission)..............................5-22Automatic Transmission Fluid
(4-Speed Transmission)..............................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-29
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-32
Engine Overheating.......................................5-32
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode (V8 Engines Only)..............5-34
Cooling System............................................5-35
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-40
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-41
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-42
Brakes........................................................5-43
Battery........................................................5-46
Jump Starting...............................................5-47
Rear Axle.......................................................5-52
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-54
Front Axle......................................................5-56
Noise Control System.....................................5-57
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-57
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-58
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter (Gasoline Engines) on page 5-20.
B. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped).
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter (Gasoline Engines)
on page 5-20.
C. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 5-35andCoolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap on page 5-32.
D. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-47.
E. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-46.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-15.
G. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “Checking the
Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) on page 5-22orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (4-Speed Transmission) on
page 5-26.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-47.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
on page 5-15.
J. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-35.
K. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-41.L. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-43.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-129.
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-42.
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil” in
the DURAMAX®Diesel manual.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-15

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts.
When you replace parts of the braking system — for
example, when the brake linings wear down and you
need new ones put in — be sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the brakes might not
work properly. For example, if someone puts in brake
linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between the front and rear brakes can change — for the
worse. The braking performance you have come to
expect can change in many other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery
(or batteries). When it is time for a new battery, see
your dealer/retailer for one that has the replacement
number shown on the original battery’s label.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for 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
{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 5-47
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: If you drive your vehicle infrequently,
remove the black, negative (−) cable from the battery.
This will help keep the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: For extended storage of your vehicle,
remove the black, negative (−) cable from the battery
or use a battery trickle charger. This will help maintain
the charge of the battery over an extended period
of time.
5-46

Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery (or batteries) has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following
steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. If you have a vehicle with a diesel engine with
two batteries, you should know before you begin
that, especially in cold weather, you may not be able
to get enough power from a single battery in another
vehicle to start your diesel engine. If your vehicle has
more than one battery, use the battery that is closer
to the starter — this will reduce electrical resistance.
This is located on the passenger side, in the rear of
the engine compartment.
5-47

3. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause an unwanted
ground connection. You would not be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the
parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in the
jump start procedure. Put the automatic transmission
in P (PARK) or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL
before setting the parking brake. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case
is in a drive gear, not in NEUTRAL.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
4. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlets. Turn off
the radio and all the lamps that are not needed.
This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save the radio!5. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on
that vehicle.
The positive (+) terminal, is located under a red
plastic cover at the positive battery post. To uncover
the positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover.
The remote negative (-) terminal is a stud located
on the right front passenger side of the engine,
where the negative battery cable attaches.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14.
5-48

6. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)oryou
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
7. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal
of the vehicle with the
dead battery.8. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step.
10. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to the remote
negative (−) terminal, on the vehicle with the dead
battery.
11. Start the vehicle with the good battery and run the
engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
5.3L engine (4.3L, 4.8L
and 6.0L similar),
5-50

Roadside Assistance Program
For vehicles purchased in the U.S.,
call1-800-CHEV-USA (1-800-243-8872);
(Text telephone (TTY): 1-888-889-2438).
For vehicles purchased in Canada, call1-800-268-6800.
Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As the owner of a new Chevrolet vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the Chevrolet Roadside
Assistance program.
Who is Covered?
Roadside Assistance coverage is for the vehicle operator,
regardless of ownership. In Canada, a person driving this
vehicle without the consent of the owner is not eligible for
coverage.
Services Provided
The following services are provided in the U.S. and
Canada up to 5 years/100,000 miles (160 000 km),
whichever occurs rst, and, in Canada only, up to a
maximum coverage of $100.
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel for the vehicle
to get to the nearest service station (approximately
$5 in Canada). In Canada, service to provide diesel
may be restricted. For safety reasons, propane and
other alternative fuels will not be provided through
this service.
Lock-out Service:Lock-out service will be covered
at no charge if you are unable to gain entry into your
vehicle. A remote unlock may be available if you
have an active OnStar
®subscription. To ensure
security, the driver must present personal
identication before lock-out service is provided. In
Canada, the vehicle registration is also required.
Emergency Tow From a Public Roadway or
Highway:Tow to the nearest dealership for warranty
service or in the event of a vehicle-disabling crash.
Winch-out assistance is provided when the vehicle is
mired in sand, mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire in good
condition, when equipped and properly inated, is
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered
by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:A battery jump start is covered at no
charge if the vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service (Canada only):Upon request,
Roadside Assistance will send you detailed,
computer personalized maps, highlighting your
choice of either the most direct route or the most
scenic route to your destination, anywhere in North
America, along with helpful travel information
pertaining to your trip.
7-7