2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO display

TCS and StabiliTrak can be turned on by pressing and
releasing the StabiliTrak button if not automatically
shut off for any other reason.
When TCS or StabiliTrak is turned off, the StabiliTrak
light and the appropriate message will be displayed
on the DIC to warn the driver. The vehicle will still have
brake-traction control when traction control is off, but
will not be able to use the engine speed management
system. See “Traction Control Operation” next for
more information.
When the traction control system has been turned off,
system noises may still be heard as a result of the
brake-traction control coming on.
It is recommended to leave the system on for normal
driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn
the system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to “rock” the vehicle to attempt to
free it. It may also be necessary to turn off the
system when driving in extreme off-road conditions
where high wheel spin is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-30
When the transfer case is in 4LO, the stability system is
automatically disabled, the StabiliTrak light comes on
and the STABILITRAK OFF message will appear on the
DIC. Both traction control and StabiliTrak are
automatically disabled in this condition.Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the StabiliTrak
system. Traction control limits wheel spin by reducing
engine power to the wheels (engine speed management)
and by applying brakes to each individual wheel
(brake-traction control) as necessary.
The traction control system is enabled automatically
when the vehicle is started. It will activate and the
StabiliTrak light will ash if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction while
driving. If traction control is turned off, only the
brake-traction control portion of traction control will
work. The engine speed management will be disabled.
In this mode, engine power is not reduced automatically
and the driven wheels can spin more freely. This can
cause the brake-traction control to activate constantly.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to spin
excessively while the StabiliTrak, ABS and brake
warning lights and any relevant DIC messages
are displayed, the transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Reduce engine power and do not spin the
wheel(s) excessively while these lights and
messages are displayed.
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The ITBC system is a factory installed item.
Out-of-factory installation of this system should not be
attempted. GM is not responsible for warranty or
performance of the system resulting from out-of-factory
installation.
Trailer Brake Control Panel
A. Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever
B. Trailer Gain Adjustment ButtonsThe ITBC system has a control panel located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering column. See
Instrument Panel Overview (Base/Uplevel version)
on page 3-4orInstrument Panel Overview (Premium
version) on page 3-6for more information on location.
The control panel allows adjustment to the amount
of output, referred to as trailer gain, available to
the electric trailer brakes and allows manual application
of the trailer brakes. The Trailer Brake Control Panel
is used along with the Trailer Brake Display Page on the
DIC to adjust and display power output to the trailer
brakes.
4-71

Trailer Brake DIC Display Page
The ITBC system displays messages into the vehicle’s
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-66for more information.
The display page indicates Trailer Gain setting, power
output to the electric trailer brakes, trailer connection
and system operational status.
A. Trailer Gain Setting
B. Power Output to Trailer Brakes
C. No trailer with electric brakes connected or fault
presentThe Trailer Brake Display Page can be displayed by
performing any of the following actions:Scrolling through the DIC menu pages using the
odometer trip stem or the DIC Vehicle Information
button (if equipped).
Pressing a Trailer Gain button – If the Trailer Brake
Display Page is not currently displayed, pressing a
Trailer Gain button will rst recall the current
Trailer Gain setting. After the Trailer Brake Display
Page is displayed, each press and release of
the gain buttons will then cause the Trailer Gain
setting to change.
Activating the Manual Trailer Brake Apply lever
Connecting a trailer equipped with electric trailer
brakes
All DIC warning and service messages must rst be
acknowledged by the driver by pressing the odometer
trip stem or the DIC Vehicle Information button (if
equipped) before the Trailer Brake Display Page can be
displayed and Trailer Gain can be adjusted.
4-72

TRAILER GAIN – This setting is displayed anytime the
Trailer Brake Display Page is active. This setting
can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either a trailer
connected or disconnected. To adjust the Trailer Gain,
press one of the Trailer Gain adjustment buttons
located on the Trailer Brake Control Panel. Press and
hold a gain button to cause the Trailer Gain to
continuously adjust. To turn the output to the trailer off,
adjust the Trailer Gain setting to 0.0 (zero).
0.0 (zero) gain is the factory default setting. To properly
adjust trailer gain, see the Trailer Gain Adjustment
Procedure later in this section.
TRAILER OUTPUT – This is displayed any time a trailer
with electric brakes is connected. Output to the electric
brakes is based on the amount of vehicle braking
present and relative to the Trailer Gain setting. Output is
displayed from 0 to 10 bars for each gain setting.
The Trailer Output will indicate “------“ontheTrailer
Brake Display Page whenever the following occur:
No trailer is connected.
A trailer without electric brakes is connected
(no DIC message is displayed).
A trailer with electric brakes has become
disconnected (a CHECK TRAILER WIRING
message will also be displayed on the DIC).
There is a fault present in the wiring to the electric
trailer brakes (a CHECK TRAILER WIRING
message will also be displayed on the DIC).
There is a fault in the ITBC system (a SERVICE
TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM message will also
be displayed in the DIC).
Manual Trailer Brake Apply
The Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever is located on the
Trailer Brake Control Panel and is used to apply the
trailer’s electric brakes independent of the vehicle’s
brakes. This lever is used in the Trailer Gain Adjustment
Procedure to properly adjust the power output to the
trailer brakes. Sliding the lever to the left will apply only
the trailer brakes. The power output to the trailer is
indicated in the Trailer Brake Display Page in the DIC. If
the vehicle’s service brakes are applied while using
the Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever, the trailer output
power will be the greater of the two.
The trailer and the vehicle’s brake lamps will come on
when either vehicle braking or manual trailer brakes are
applied.
4-73

Trailer Gain Adjustment Procedure
Trailer Gain should be set for a specic trailering
condition and must be adjusted any time vehicle loading,
trailer loading or road surface conditions change.
Setting the Trailer Gain properly is needed for the
best trailer stopping performance. A trailer that is
over-gained may result in locked trailer brakes. A trailer
that is under-gained may result in not enough trailer
braking. Both of these conditions may result in poorer
stopping and stability of the vehicle and trailer.
Use the following procedure to correctly adjust Trailer
Gain for each towing condition:
1. Make sure the trailer brakes are in proper working
condition.
2. Connect a properly loaded trailer to the vehicle and
make all necessary mechanical and electrical
connections. SeeLoading the Vehicle on page 4-32
for more information.
3. After the electrical connection is made to a trailer
equipped with electric brakes:
A TRAILER CONNECTED message will be
briey displayed on the DIC display.
The Trailer Brake Display Page will appear on
the DIC showing TRAILER GAIN and TRAILER
OUTPUT.
In the Trailer Output display on the DIC,
“------’’will disappear if there is no error
present. Connecting a trailer without electric
brakes will not clear the six dashed lines.
4. Adjust the Trailer Gain by using the gain adjustment
(+ / -) buttons on the Trailer Brake Control Panel.
5. Drive the vehicle with the trailer attached on a level
road surface representative of the towing condition
and free of traffic at about 20 to 25 mph (32 to
40 km/h) and fully apply the Manual Trailer Brake
Apply lever.
Adjusting trailer gain at speeds lower than 20 to
25 mph (32 to 40 km/h) may result in an incorrect
gain setting.
6. Adjust the Trailer Gain to just below the point of
trailer wheel lock-up, indicated by trailer wheel
squeal or tire smoke when a trailer wheel locks.
Trailer wheel lock-up may not occur if towing
a heavily loaded trailer. In this case, adjust the
Trailer Gain to the highest allowable setting for the
towing condition.
7. Re-adjust Trailer Gain any time vehicle loading,
trailer loading or road surface conditions change
or if trailer wheel lock-up is noticed at any time while
towing.
4-74

Other ITBC Related DIC Messages
In addition to displaying TRAILER GAIN and TRAILER
OUTPUT through the DIC, trailer connection and
ITBC system status is displayed in the DIC.
TRAILER CONNECTED – This message will be briey
displayed when a trailer with electric brakes is rst
connected to the vehicle. This message will
automatically turn off in about ten seconds. The driver
can also acknowledge this message before it
automatically turns off.
CHECK TRAILER WIRING – This message will be
displayed if:
1. The ITBC system rst determines connection to a
trailer with electric brakes and then the trailer
harness becomes disconnected from the vehicle.
If the disconnect occurs while the vehicle is
stationary, this message will automatically turn off in
about thirty seconds. This message will also turn
off if the driver acknowledges this message off or if
the trailer harness is re-connected.
If the disconnect occurs while the vehicle is moving,
this message will continue until the ignition is
turned off. This message will also turn off if the
driver acknowledges this message off or if the trailer
harness is re-connected.2. There is an electrical fault in the wiring to the
electric trailer brakes. This message will continue as
long as there is an electrical fault in the trailer
wiring. This message will also turn off if the driver
acknowledges this message off.
To determine if the electrical fault is on the vehicle side
or trailer side of the trailer wiring harness connection,
do the following:
1. Disconnect the trailer wiring harness from the
vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition OFF.
3. Wait ten seconds, then turn the ignition back
to RUN.
4. If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING message
re-appears, the electrical fault is on the vehicle side.
If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING message only
re-appears when connecting the trailer wiring
harness to the vehicle, the electrical fault is on the
trailer side.
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM – This message
will be displayed when there is a problem with the
ITBC system. If this message persists over multiple
ignition cycles there is a problem with the ITBC system.
Take the vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to have
the ITBC system diagnosed and repaired.
4-75

If either the CHECK TRAILER WIRING or SERVICE
TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM message is displayed while
driving the vehicle, power is no longer available to
the trailer brakes. When traffic conditions allow, carefully
pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and turn
the ignition off. Check the wiring connection to the trailer
and turn the ignition back on. If either of these
messages continues, either the vehicle or trailer needs
service.
An authorized GM dealer may be able to diagnose and
repair problems with the trailer. However, any
diagnosis and repair of the trailer is not covered under
the vehicle warranty. Please contact your trailer
dealer for assistance with trailer repairs and trailer
warranty information.Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
When towing a trailer, exhaust gases may collect
at the rear of the vehicle and enter if the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most window is open.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing a trailer:
Have the exhaust system inspected for
leaks and make necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
Never drive with the liftgate, trunk/hatch, or
rear-most window open.
Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 2-55.
4-76

{CAUTION:
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap
too quickly. If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray
can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly and
wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
If the vehicle is a dual fuel tank chassis cab model, and
it runs out of fuel, refuel the front fuel tank rst to
ensure a quick restart.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-118.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it
clicks. It will require more effort to turn the fuel cap on
the last turn as you tighten it. Make sure the cap is
fully installed. The diagnostic system can determine ifthe fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
This would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-45.
The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not properly
installed. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66
for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the station
attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer/retailer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not t
properly. This may cause the malfunction indicator
lamp to light and may damage the fuel tank and
emissions system. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-45.
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