2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO warning lights

Black plate (63,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-63
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 9‑70.
{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 9‑68.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral)
only when towing the vehicle.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing
on
page 10‑101or Towing the Vehicleon
page 10‑101for more information.

Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-67
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle might have 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 5‑30. Along with ABS, the vehicle has a
Dynamic Rear Proportioning (DRP)
system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning
lights come on accompanied by
a 10‐second chime. The lights
and chime will come on each time
the ignition is turned on until the
problem is repaired. See your
dealer for service.
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 front wheel and at
both rear wheels.
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. You might feel the
brakes vibrate or hear some noise,
but this is normal.

Black plate (72,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-72 Driving and Operating
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. See If the Vehicle is Stuck
on page 9‑22.
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 flash
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, 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.
The traction control system may
activate on dry or rough roads or
under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or
abrupt upshifts/downshifts of the
transmission. When this happens,
a reduction in acceleration may be
noticed, or a noise or vibration may
be heard. This is normal.
If cruise control is being used when
the system activates, the StabiliTrak
light will flash and cruise control will
automatically disengage. Cruise
control may be reengaged when
road conditions allow. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑73.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
i-6 INDEX
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-83Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-85
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . 9-86
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-89
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-88
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 9-85
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-84
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 5-33
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-84
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-84
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Fuel Economy Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-34
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Fuses Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-61Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-61
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-84
Gauges Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-90
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-5
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-3
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Heater Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-65
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-19
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-7
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
I
Idle System Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-53
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Instrument Panel Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii, 7-1
J
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . 5-48
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . 2-3
Keyless Entry System . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . 10-56
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Lamps Auxiliary RoofMounted Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . 6-4
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-27 Lamps (cont.)
Pick-Up Box Identification
and Fender Marker . . . . . . . . 10-44
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
LATCH System Replacing Parts After a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-68
Latch, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
Latches, Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Lighter, Cigarette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lights Airbag On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
i-8 INDEX
Lights (cont.)Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-3
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 5-21
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
StabiliTrak
®Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-73
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . 5-33
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
SYSTEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
M
Maintenance
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 11-2
Transfer Case Vent Filter . . . . . 9-53
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-27
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . 9-51 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 Messages
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . 5-50
Battery Voltage and
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-46
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Object Detection System . . . . . 5-48
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
i-14 INDEX
W
Warning Lights, Gauges,and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . . . 5-53
Wheels
Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Where to Put the
Child Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57 Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-39