2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-19
Oil pressure can vary with engine
speed, outside temperature and
oil viscosity, but if readings are
outside the normal operating range,
the oil pressure light comes on.
SeeEngine Oil Pressure Light
on
page 5‑32for more information.
A reading outside the normal
operating range can be caused
by a dangerously low oil level or
some other problem causing low
oil pressure. Check the vehicle's
oil as soon as possible. See “OIL
PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE”
under Engine Oil Messages
on
page 5‑47and Engine Oilon
page 10‑7.
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-20 Instruments and Controls
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of
how hard the vehicle is working.
During a majority of the operation,
the gauge reads 100°C (210°F) or
less. If pulling a load or going up
hills, it is normal for the temperature
to fluctuate and go over the 113°C
(235°F) mark. If the gauge reaches
the 125°C (260°F) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working
beyond its capacity. See
Engine Overheating
on
page 10‑24.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Voltmeter Gauge
For vehicles with a voltmeter gauge,
this gauge indicates the battery
voltage when the ignition is
turned on. When the ignition is on, this gauge
indicates the battery voltage.
When the engine is running, this
gauge shows the condition of the
charging system. The gauge can
transition from a higher to lower
or a lower to higher reading. This is
normal. If the vehicle is operating
outside the normal operating range,
the charging system light comes on.
See
Charging System Light
on
page 5‑26for more information.
The voltmeter gauge may also read
lower when in fuel economy mode.
This is normal.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-21
Readings outside the normal
operating range can also occur
when a large number of electrical
accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is
left idling for an extended period.
This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to
provide full power at engine idle.
As engine speeds are increased,
this condition should correct itself
as higher engine speeds allow the
charging system to create maximum
power.
The vehicle can only be driven for a
short time with the readings outside
the normal operating range. If the
vehicle must be driven, turn off all
accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
Readings outside the normal
operating range indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon
as possible.Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
When the engine is started, a chime
sounds for several seconds, on
vehicles equipped with a radio,
to remind the driver to fasten the
safety belt, unless the driver safety
belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light flashes for
several seconds, then comes on
solid for several more.This chime and light sequence
are repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in
motion. If the driver safety belt is
already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
For vehicles equipped with the
passenger safety belt reminder
light, several seconds after the
engine is started, a chime sounds
for several seconds to remind the
front passenger to buckle their
safety belt. The passenger safety
belt light, located on the overhead
console, flashes for several more
seconds and then comes on solid
for several more.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-22 Instruments and Controls
This chime and light are repeated if
the passenger remains unbuckled
and the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
warning light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other
electronic device. To turn off the
warning light and or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag's
electrical system for possible
malfunctions. If the light stays
on it indicates there is an electrical
problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the
pretensioners, the airbag modules,
the wiring, and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more
information on the airbag system,
seeAirbag System on page 3‑31.
The airbag readiness light comes
on solid for a few seconds when the
engine is started. If the light does
not come on then, have it fixed
immediately.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
If there is a problem with the airbag
system, a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message can also come on.
See Airbag System Messages
on
page 5‑50for more information.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-23
Airbag On-Off Light
If the vehicle has an airbag on-off
switch, it also has a passenger
airbag status indicator located
in the overhead console.
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, will light for several
seconds as a system check. Then,
after several more seconds, the
status indicator ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol, will light to let
you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag.
When the right front passenger
airbag is manually turned off using
the airbag on-off switch in the glove
box, the indicator light OFF or the
off symbol will come on and stay on
as a reminder that the airbag has
been turned off. This light will go off
when the airbag has been turned
on. See
Airbag On-Off Switch
on
page 3‑39for more information,
including important safety
information.
United States

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-24 Instruments and Controls
Canada and Mexico
{WARNING
If the right front passenger's
airbag is turned off for a person
who is not in a risk group
identified by the national
government, that person will
not have the extra protection of
an airbag. In a crash, the airbag
will not be able to inflate and help
protect the person sitting there.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Do not turn off the passenger's
airbag unless the person sitting
there is in a risk group identified
by the national government.
SeeAirbag On-Off Switch
on
page 3‑39
for more on this,
including important safety
information.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
For example, the right front
passenger airbag could inflate
even though the airbag on-off
switch is turned off.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light
on page 5‑22for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the word ON or the on symbol
is lit, it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag is enabled
(may inflate). See Airbag On-Off
Switch
on page 3‑39for more
information, including important
safety information.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the airbag
on-off switch. See your dealer for
service.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-25
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
If the vehicle has one of the
indicators pictured in the following
illustrations, then the vehicle has
a passenger sensing system for
the right front passenger position
unless there is an airbag off switch
located in the glove box. If there is
an airbag off switch, the vehicle
does not have a passenger system
system. SeeAirbag On-Off Switch
on page 3‑39.
The passenger airbag status
indicator is on the overhead
console. See Passenger Sensing
System
on page 3‑42for important
safety information. In addition, if the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position, the
label on the vehicle's sun visor
refers to
“ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger frontal airbag is
enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-26 Instruments and Controls
If, after several seconds, both
status indicator lights remain on,
or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system.
See your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light
on page 5‑22for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly when
the ignition key is turned to START,
but the engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once
the engine starts. If it stays on,
or comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can also appear.
See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages
on page 5‑43for more
information. This light could indicate
that there are problems with a
generator drive belt, or that there
is an electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. If the vehicle
must be driven a short distance with
the light on, turn off accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.