C (ON/RUN) :This position can be used to operate the
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel cluster warning and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the engine is running.
The transmission is also unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
If you leave the key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN position with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to start the vehicle if
the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START) : This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the driver door is
opened, the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
.Audio System
.Power Windows
.OnStar®System (if equipped)
.Sunroof (if equipped)
These features work when the key is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from
ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, the windows and sunroof
continue to work up to 10 minutes until any door is
opened. The radio continues to work for up to
10 minutes or until the driver door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral).
The engine will not start in any other position.
To restart the engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice: Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
3-26
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn theignition to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will slow down
as the engine warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up
and lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine
and protects components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position, and then released
when the engine begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does not start and the
key is held in START, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor
damage. To prevent gear damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is already running.
Engine cranking can be stopped by turning the
ignition switch to the ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF position.
Notice: Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,
to let the cranking motor cool down. 2. If the engine does not start after 5‐10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or
−18°C), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, repeat
these steps. This clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transmission
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Notice: The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer/retailer. If you
do not, the engine might not perform properly.
Any resulting damage would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
3-27
Automatic Transmission Operation
The vehicle has a Hydra-Matic®6L80 automatic
transmission, and has an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument panel cluster.
The electronic shift position indicator displays when
the shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
Light Duty 6‐Speed Automatic Transmission Shown (Heavy Duty 6‐Speed Similar)
See “Range Selection Mode” later in this section.
P (Park) : This position locks your rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily. When parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle has
a heavy load, you may notice an increase in the effort
to shift out of P (Park). See Torque Lock (Automatic
Transmission) under
Shifting Into Park
on page 3‑37for more information.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into
Park
on page 3‑37. If you are pulling a trailer,
see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑42.
3-30
R (Reverse) :Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see If
Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow
on
page 5‑29.
N (Neutral) : In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the
vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also,
use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed. Notice:
Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive) : This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy for the vehicle. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road driving.
You may want to shift the transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
under Loss of Control on page 5‑11.
3-31
When temperatures are very cold, the Hydra-Matic®
Automatic Transmission's gear shifting may be delayed
providing more stable shifts until the engine warms up.
Shifts may be more noticeable with a cold transmission.
This difference in shifting is normal.
M (Manual Mode) :This position lets drivers select
the range of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. See Range Selection Mode later in this
section.
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.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that
adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and
downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an upshift, if the engine will
be able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things
such as throttle position, vehicle load, and hill grade. If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission
does not upshift and instead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this may appear to be a delayed shift,
however the transmission is operating normally.
The vehicle's transmission uses adaptive shift controls.
Adaptive shift controls continually compares key shift
parameters to pre‐programmed ideal shift conditions
stored in the transmissions computer. The transmission
constantly makes adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to the way the vehicle is being
used, such as with a heavy load. During this adaptive
shift controls process, some shifts may feel different as
the transmission determines the best settings for a
particular shift.
3-32
Range Selection Mode
On vehicles with a Range Selection Mode, this feature
may be used to control the vehicle's transmission.
To use this feature, do the following:1. Move the shift lever to the M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button, to upshift or downshift selecting the desired range of gears for current
driving conditions. When in M (Manual Mode) a number displays next
to the M, indicating the current gear that has been
selected. The number displayed in the gear indicator 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.
Range Selection Mode controls the vehicle and engine
speed while driving down a hill or towing a trailer,
by allowing you to select a desired range of gears.
Grade Braking is not available when the Range
Selection Mode is active. See
Tow/Haul Mode
on
page 3‑34for more information.
While using the Range Selection Mode, Cruise Control
and the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
3-33
Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a tow/haul mode. The tow/haul mode
adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shift
cycling, providing increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling when towing or
hauling heavy loads.Press the button located on the end of the shift lever to
turn the tow/haul on or off. When the tow/haul is on, a
light on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light
on page 4‑40for more
information.
Also see “Tow Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on
page 5‑42for more information.
The tow/haul mode works with the Autoride
®feature,
if the vehicle has this, to enhance the ride when
trailering or with a loaded vehicle. See Autoride
®on
page 5‑41.
3-34
Grade Braking
The Grade Braking shift modes can be activated by
pressing the button on the end of the shift control lever.
While in Range Selection Mode , Grade Braking is
deactivated allowing the driver to select a desired range
of gears.
Grade Braking is only active while the Tow/Haul Mode
is selected and you are not in the Range Selection
Mode. See“Tow/Haul Mode listed previously and
Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 3‑30for
more information on the Range Selection Mode. Grade
Braking assists in maintaining desired vehicle speeds
when driving on downhill grades by automatically
implementing a shift schedule that utilizes the engine
and transmission to slow the vehicle. This reduces wear
on the braking system and increases control of the
vehicle. Grade Braking monitors vehicle speed,
acceleration, engine torque and brake pedal usage.
Using this information, it detects when the vehicle is on
a downhill grade and the driver desires to slow the
vehicle by pressing the brake.
Also see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑42for more
information.
Cruise Grade Braking
Cruise Grade Braking assists when driving on a
downhill grade. It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift schedule that uses
the engine and the transmission to slow the vehicle.
Cruise Grade Braking operates while Cruise Control is
engaged in Tow/Haul mode to assist in maintaining
vehicle speed under loaded vehicle conditions.
It utilizes vehicle acceleration and deviation from
desired speed to determine the correct gear for the
operating condition. If vehicle speed is above the
desired speed the transmission will downshift to slow
the vehicle. If vehicle speed is near or below desired
speed the trans will upshift, allowing vehicle speed to
increase.
While in the Range Select Mode (RSM) mode, cruise
grade braking is not available.
See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 3‑30.
3-35