2009 CHEVROLET KODIAK stop start

When the warning light comes on while you are driving,
you should drive only as far as the nearest point of
safety and then stop the vehicle. Here is a very
important thing for you to know:
{CAUTION:
If the air brake system warning light comes on and
the warning tone sounds, the vehicle can stop
suddenly and without further warning. This is
because the parking brake will come on if the
pressure falls below 35 to 45 psi (240 to 310 kPa).
You or others could be injured. If the air brake
system warning light comes on and the warning
tone sounds, stop as soon as you can. You will
not know how quickly the system is losing
pressure, so be aware that the parking brake may
come on suddenly.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
This light will come on
briefly when you start the
engine, then it will turn
off. This is normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the brake or low air warning
light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do not have
the antilock brake feature. If the brake and/or low air
warning light is on, you do not have antilock brakes and
there is a problem with your regular brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-31andAntilock Brake
System (ABS) on page 4-5for more information.
3-33

Engine Overspeed Warning Light
If your vehicle has this
light, it will come on if
your engine is operating
at too many revolutions per
minute (rpm).
It will also come on for a moment as a check when you
start your engine.
If it comes on when you’re driving, reduce your engine
speed immediately.
Engine Shutdown Warning Light
If your vehicle has the
engine shutdown feature,
this light will come on
when engine shutdown is
active.
SeeEngine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown on
page 2-18for more information.
Transmission Temperature Gage
If you have an automatic
transmission and this gage,
it is located above the
switchbank in the center of
the instrument panel.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in the
warning zone, the red area beginning at 300°F (150°C),
means you must stop driving and check into the
cause. One possible cause is a low oil level in the
transmission.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the transmission.
This could lead to costly repairs that would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle while the transmission temperature gage
reading is above normal. See your dealer for service.
3-40

To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than
two seconds until a beep sounds. B (balance) and a zero
or F (fade) and a zero displays.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, first end out of audio mode by
pressing another button, causing the radio to perform that
function, or by waiting five seconds for the display to
return to the time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO
button for more than two seconds until a beep sounds.
CEN displays.
Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular cab
model.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibration):The audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
displays it means that the radio has not been configured
properly for your vehicle and must be returned to your
dealer/retailer for service.
LOC (Locked):This message displays when the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up. Take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or cannot be corrected,
contact your dealer/retailer.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing.
CD displays. If you want to insert a CD with the ignition
off, first press the eject button or the RCL knob.
If you insert a CD with the radio off and the ignition on,
it starts to play.
If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the
player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio
is turned on, the CD starts playing where it stopped,
if it was the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
3-51

Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
•Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
•Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
•Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
•When road and weather conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
•Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
•Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
•Combine several trips into a single trip.
•Replace the vehicle’s tires with the same TPC Spec
number molded into the tire’s sidewall near the size.
•Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to
wear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-11.
{CAUTION:
Assume that other road users (pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. In addition:
•Allow enough following distance between you
and the driver in front of you.
•Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in
injury or possible death. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that helps prevent a
braking skid.
When the engine is started and the vehicle begins to
drive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor
or clicking noise might be heard while this test is going
on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light
stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on
page 3-33.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, as
required, faster than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to get
a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to apply the brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let antilock work. The brakes might be
felt to pulsate, or the sound of air exhausting might
be heard if the vehicle has air brakes, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help more than
even the very best braking.
4-5

Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feel
really uncomfortable from the cold. Moving about
to keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and then
when you run the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible to save fuel.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free the
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-19.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often help to
free a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s traction
system in the Index. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the traction system off
and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others could be
injured. The vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. For four-wheel-drive vehicles,
shift into 4HI. Turn off any traction system. Shift back and
forth between R (Reverse) and a forward gear, or with a
manual transmission, between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels as little as possible.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to be
towed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-23.
4-19

In the United States, for best results use No. 2-D diesel
fuel year-round (above and below freezing conditions) as
oil companies blend No. 2-D fuel to address climate
differences. No. 1-D diesel fuel can be used in very cold
temperatures (when it stays below 0°F or−18°C);
however, it will produce a power and fuel economy loss.
Avoid the use of No. 1-D diesel fuel in warm or hot
climates. It can result in stalling, poor starting when the
engine is hot, and could damage the fuel injection
system.
It is acceptable to use diesel fuel containing up to
5% biodiesel (B5), but the final blended fuel must meet
the same specification, ASTM D 975 (Grades No. 2-D or
No. 1-D S15 commonly known as Ultra Low Sulfur
diesel), as other fuels used in your vehicle, and the
biodiesel used for making this fuel must meet the latest
version of ASTM specification D 6751. Biodiesel is
produced from vegetable oils or animal fat that have been
chemically modified to reduce the possibility of damage
to the fuel system and engine. Higher concentration (i.e.,
greater than B5) biodiesel-containing fuels or the use
of unmodified bio-oils blended into diesel fuel at any
concentration is not recommended and could damage the
fuel system and engine. Such damage would not be
covered by your warranty. If there are questions about
the biodiesel-containing fuels you are using, contact your
fuel supplier.Because of the cleansing properties of biodiesel,
switching from straight diesel to a biodiesel blend can
prematurely restrict the fuel filter with normal deposits in
the fuel system. A fuel filter replacement might be
required sooner than the recommended interval.
Diesel fuel can foam when you fill the tank. This can
cause the automatic pump nozzle to shut off, even
though the tank is not full. If this happens, just wait for
the foaming to stop and then try filling the tank more
slowly. SeeFilling the Tank on page 5-20.
{CAUTION:
Heat coming from the engine can cause the fuel to
expand and force the fuel out of the tank. If
something ignites the fuel, a fire could start and
people could be burned. To help avoid this, try
filling the tank more slowly and fill the fuel tank
only until the automatic nozzle shuts off. Do not try
to top it off.
5-9

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and let
the engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. If climbing a hill, downshift to raise engine and fan
speeds.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as
fast as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you are parked. If you still have the warning, turn off
the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch is not fully engaged. This improves
fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside
temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch
engages. So you may hear an increase in fan noise.
This is normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely
the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-5to determine
when to check your power steering fluid.
5-49