2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO brake light

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-14 Driving and Operating
If, after stalling, you try to back
down the hill and decide you just
cannot do it, set the parking brake,
put your transmission in P (Park),
and turn off the engine. Leave
the vehicle and go get some help.
Exit on the uphill side and stay clear
of the path the vehicle would take if
it rolled downhill. Do not shift the
transfer case to Neutral when you
leave the vehicle. Leave it in
some gear.
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
Neutral can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). This is because the
Neutral position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be
injured. If you are going to leave
your vehicle, set the parking
brake and shift the transmission
to P (Park). But do not shift the
transfer case to Neutral.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you
downhill, consider:
.How steep is the downhill?
Will I be able to maintain vehicle
control?
.What is the surface like?
Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
.Are there hidden surface
obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
.What is at the bottom of the hill?
Is there a hidden creek bank or
even a river bottom with large
rocks?
If you decide you can go down a
hill safely, try to keep the vehicle
headed straight down. Use a low
gear so engine drag can help the
brakes so they do not have to do all
the work. Descend slowly, keeping
the vehicle under control at all
times.
{WARNING
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a
serious accident. Apply the
brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
Things not to do when driving down
a hill:
.When driving downhill, avoid
turns that take you across the
incline of the hill. A hill that is
not too steep to drive down
might be too steep to drive
across. The vehicle could
roll over.
.Never go downhill with the
transmission in N (Neutral),
called free-wheeling. The brakes
will have to do all the work and
could overheat and fade.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody,
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
The vehicle requires more frequent
service due to off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-34 Driving and Operating
In an emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to neutral, firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle
to a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an
automatic transmission,
or neutral with a manual
transmission. Turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑68
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF. The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle needs
service.
Notice:
Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the way in,
and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by
hand, see your dealer.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY): This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
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.
If the vehicle is equipped with a
radio, 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.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-44 Driving and Operating
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
Hydra-Matic®4-Speed Automatic
Transmission
Heavy Duty 6-Speed Automatic
Transmission Shown (Light Duty 6‐Speed Similar)
See “Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode on page 9‑47. P (Park):
This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily. When parked on a hill,
especially when the vehicle has a
heavy load, you might notice an
increase in the effort to shift out of
P (Park). See “Torque Lock” under
Shifting Into Park
on page 9‑38for 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,
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park
on
page 9‑38
. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑90.
{WARNING
If you have Four-Wheel Drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll —even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in Neutral.
So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
Neutral. See Shifting Into Park
on page 9‑38.

Black plate (50,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-50 Driving and Operating
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.
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and
off by pressing the button, located
on the end of the shift lever. When
the tow/haul is on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster will
come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Light
on
page 5‑31for more information.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment
on page 9‑111for more information.
Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission
or Hydra-Matic 6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
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 Manual Mode
on
page 9‑47for 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
truck is on a downhill grade and
the driver desires to slow the
vehicle by pressing the brake.
This feature is active when
the exhaust brake is enabled
(if equipped).
Also see
Towing Equipment
on
page 9‑111for more information.

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-57
Shifting In or Out of Four-Wheel
Drive Low
Notice:Shifting the transfer
case into Four-Wheel-Drive Low
while moving at speeds faster
than 5 km/h (3 mph) may cause
premature wear to the transfer
case, and may cause the gears
to grind. To avoid causing
premature wear, and grinding the
gears, do not shift the transfer
case into Four-Wheel-Drive Low
while the vehicle is moving faster
than 5 km/h (3 mph).
.Shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
Low should be done, if possible,
with the vehicle at a slight roll,
5 km/h (3 mph) or less.
.Shift the transmission into
N (Neutral).
{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.
.Shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
Low with the vehicle at a stop
may be more difficult. You may
be unable to complete the shift
to Four-Wheel Drive Low, and
the transfer case will end up in
N (Neutral). This is normal, and
is a function of the gear teeth
aligning in the transfer case.
When this happens, make
sure the engine is on, shift
the transmission momentarily
to D (Drive) and back to
N (Neutral), and then complete
the transfer case shift.
.Shift the transfer case shift lever
in one continuous motion into
the Four-Wheel Drive Low
position.
.When in Four-Wheel Drive
Low do not drive faster than
72 km/h (45 mph). This will
reduce wear and extend the
life of your transfer case.
Shifting In or Out of Neutral
1. With the vehicle running and the engine at an idle, set the parking
brake.
2. Place the transmission into N (Neutral).
Shift the transfer case in one
continuous motion into or out
of the N (Neutral) position.

Black plate (61,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-61
Notice:Shifting the transmission
into gear before the requested
mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case. To help avoid
damaging the vehicle, always
wait for the mode indicator lights
to stop flashing before shifting
the transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit
significant engagement noise
and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel Drive Low and
Four-Wheel Drive High ranges
or from transfer case N (Neutral)
with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the
Four-Wheel Drive High,
or Two-Wheel Drive High switch
position when the vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the Four-Wheel
Drive High, or Two-Wheel Drive
High indicator light will flash for
30 seconds but will not complete the
shift unless your vehicle is moving
less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the
transmission is in N (Neutral). Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to
N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked
so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and press and hold the regular brake
pedal. See Parking Brake
on
page 9‑68for more information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral) until
it stops and hold it there until
the Neutral light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release
the dial to the four low position.
The N (Neutral) light will come
on when the transfer case shift
to N (Neutral) is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify that the transfer case is in
N (Neutral) by shifting the
transmission to R (Reverse)
for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for
one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ ACCESSORY, which will turn
the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.

Black plate (62,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-62 Driving and Operating
Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift the transfer case out of
N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and applythe regular brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off, and shift the
transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to Two-Wheel Drive High.
After the transfer case has
shifted out of N (Neutral), the
N (Neutral) light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle. Notice:
Shifting the transmission
into gear before the requested
mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case. To help avoid
damaging the vehicle, always
wait for the mode indicator lights
to stop flashing before shifting
the transmission into gear.
5. Start the engine and shift the
transmission to the desired
position.
Excessively shifting the transfer
case into or out of the different
modes may cause the transfer case
to enter the shift protection mode.
This will protect the transfer case
from possible damage and will only
allow the transfer case to respond
to one shift per 10 seconds. The
transfer case may stay in this mode
for up to three minutes.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.