2010 CHEVROLET SILVERADO traction control

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
i: Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v

Transmission
Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch is located on the
shift lever. To enable the Range Selection feature, move
the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position. The
current range will appear next to the M. This is the
highest attainable range with all lower gears accessible.
As an example, when 4 (Fourth) gear is selected,
1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are available.Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering
column shift lever, to select the desired range of gears
for current driving conditions. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 3‑28.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise control and
the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when Range Selection
Mode is active. See Tow/Haul Mode on page 3‑34.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has Four-Wheel Drive, you can send the
engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Transfer Case Buttons
The vehicle will have one of these three styles of
transfer case controls. Use these controls to shift into
and out of the different Four-Wheel Drive modes.
1-21

Vent:From the closed position, press the rear of the
passenger side switch to vent the sunroof.
Manual-Open/Manual-Close: To open the sunroof,
press and hold the rear of the driver side switch until the
sunroof reaches the desired position. Press and hold
the front of the driver side switch to close it.
Express-Open/Express-Close: To express-open the
sunroof, fully press and release the rear of the driver
side switch until the sunroof reaches the desired
position. To express-close the sunroof, fully press and
release the front of the driver side switch. Press the
switch again to stop it.
The sunroof also has a sunshade that you can pull
forward to block the rays of the sun. The sunshade
must be opened and closed manually.
See Sunroof on page 3‑78.Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®
The vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin and the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. Both systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press and release5on
the instrument panel.
Filluminates and the
appropriate DIC message displays. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑63.
.To turn off both traction control and Electronic
Stability Control, press and hold
5untilF
illuminates and the appropriate DIC message
displays. See DIC Warnings and Messageson
page 4‑63.
.Press and release the button again to turn on both
systems.
For more information, see StabiliTrak
®Systemon
page 5‑6.
1-31

To use this feature, do the following:1. Move the shift lever to M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering column shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current driving conditions.
When M (Manual Mode) is selected a number displays
next to the M, indicating the current gear.
This number is the highest gear that can be used.
However, the vehicle can automatically shift to lower
gears as it adjusts to driving conditions. This means
that all gears below that number are available. When
5 (Fifth) is selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are
automatically shifted by the vehicle, but 6 (Sixth) cannot
be used until the plus/minus button located on the
steering column lever is used to change to the gear.
Grade Braking is not available when Range Selection
Mode is active. See Tow/Haul Mode on page 3‑34.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise control and
the Tow/Haul mode can be used. Notice:
Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Low Traction Mode
If your vehicle has the Allison Transmission®, or the
Hydra-Matic®6-Speed Automatic Transmission, it has a
Low Traction Mode that can assist in vehicle
acceleration when road conditions are slippery, such as
with ice or snow. While the vehicle is at a stop, select
the second gear range using Range Selection Mode.
This will limit torque to the wheels after it detects wheel
slip, preventing the tires from spinning.
3-33

Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has Four-Wheel Drive, you can send the
engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To get the most satisfaction out of Four-Wheel
Drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the
following before using Four-Wheel Drive. See the
appropriate text for the transfer case in the vehicle.
Notice:Driving on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel Drive High or Four-Wheel Drive Low for
an extended period of time may cause premature
wear on your vehicle's powertrain. Do not drive on
clean, dry pavement in Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low for extended periods of time.
While driving on clean dry pavement and during tight
turns, you may experience vibration in the steering
system.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
Front Axle
The front axle engages and disengages automatically
when you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the
axle to engage or disengage is normal.
Manual Transfer Case
The transfer case shift lever is on the floor to the right of
the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of
Four-Wheel Drive.
3-36

A Four-Wheel Drive
indicator light comes on
when you shift into
four-wheel drive and the
front axle engages. See
Four-Wheel-Drive Light
on page 4‑47.
Some delay between shifting and when the indicator
light comes on is normal.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving Conditions Transfer Case Settings
2m 4m 4n N
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See Recreational Vehicle Towing
on page 5‑44or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑44
Notice: Driving on clean, dry pavement in
four-wheel drive for an extended period of time can
cause premature wear on the vehicle's powertrain.
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in Four-Wheel
Drive for extended periods of time.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low): This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need Four-Wheel-Drive Low. It sends maximum power
to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive
Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud,
deep snow, and while climbing or descending steep
hills.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
3-37

4m(Four-Wheel-Drive High):Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive the vehicle. This is the best setting to
use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low): This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive Low while
driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending steep hills.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
{WARNING:
Shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral) can cause
the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). You or someone else could be seriously
injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Parking Brake on page 3‑50.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing
on page 5‑44or Towing
Your Vehicleon page 5‑44for more information.
If the SERVICE 4–WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer for service.
See “Service 4–Wheel Drive message” underDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑63.
3-42

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is
located next to the
steering column.
Use the dial to shift into and out of Four-Wheel Drive.
You can choose among five driving settings:
Indicator lights in the dial show which setting you are in.
The indicator lights will come on briefly when you turn
on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not
come on, you should take the vehicle to your dealer for
service. An indicator light will flash while shifting the
transfer case. It will remain illuminated when the shift is
complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot
make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen
setting. 2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):
This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in Two-Wheel Drive. This setting
also provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is sent only to
the front and rear wheels automatically based on driving
conditions. Driving in this mode results in slightly lower
fuel economy than Two-Wheel-Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel-Drive High): Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive the vehicle. This is the best setting to
use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low): This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep
snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
3-46