Black plate (116,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-116 Driving and Operating
This indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when the
Tow/Haul Mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode
on page 9‑49for more
information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing
on page 9‑94.
Tow/Haul is most useful under
the following driving conditions:
.When pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
.When pulling a heavy trailer
or a large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no
trailer at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may
result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load.
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for electric trailer brakes.
This symbol is located on the
Trailer Brake Control Panel on
vehicles with an Integrated Trailer
Brake Control system. The power
output to the trailer brakes is based
on the amount of brake pressure
being applied by the vehicle’s brake
system. This available power output
to the trailer brakes can be adjusted
to a wide range of trailering
situations.
The ITBC system is integrated
with the vehicle’s brake, antilock
brake, and StabiliTrak (if equipped)
systems. In trailering conditions that
cause the vehicle’s antilock brake or
Black plate (118,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-118 Driving and Operating
Trailer Brake Control Panel
A. Manual Trailer Brake ApplyLever
B. Trailer Gain Adjustment Buttons The ITBC system has a control
panel located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
column. See
Instrument Panel
(Base/Uplevel Version)
on
page 1‑2or Instrument Panel
(Premium Version)on page 1‑6.
The control panel allows adjustment
to the amount of output, referred
to as trailer gain, available to the
electric trailer brakes and allows
manual application of the trailer
brakes. The Trailer Brake Control
Panel is used along with the Trailer
Brake Display Page on the DIC to
adjust and display power output to
the trailer brakes.
Trailer Brake DIC Display Page
The ITBC system displays
messages on the vehicle’s Driver
Information Center (DIC). See Brake
System Messages
on page 5‑44for more information. The display page indicates
Trailer Gain setting, power output
to the electric trailer brakes, trailer
connection, and system operational
status.
The Trailer Brake Display Page can
be displayed by performing any of
the following actions:
.Scrolling through the DIC menu
pages using the odometer
trip stem or the DIC Vehicle
Information button (if equipped).
.Pressing a Trailer Gain
button—If the Trailer Brake
Display Page is not currently
displayed, pressing a Trailer
Gain button will first recall the
current Trailer Gain setting.
After the Trailer Brake Display
Page is displayed, each press
and release of the gain buttons
will then cause the Trailer Gain
setting to change.
Black plate (123,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-123
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature. If the vehicle
is towing a trailer and the system
detects that the trailer is swaying,
the vehicle's brakes are applied
without the driver pressing the brake
pedal. If the vehicle is equipped with
the Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, StabiliTrak may also
apply the trailer brakes. The TCS/
StabiliTrak warning light will flash on
the instrument panel cluster to notify
the driver to reduce speed. If the
trailer continues to sway, StabiliTrak
will reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle's
performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications
on page 10‑3for
more information.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice: Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered
by the vehicle's warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle 12‐volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
on page 3‑48and Adding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑48.
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, here are some things you
need to know:
Notice: If your vehicle does
not have the snow plow prep
package, adding a plow can
damage your vehicle, and the
repairs would not be covered by
warranty. Unless your vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to your vehicle. If your
vehicle has the snow plow prep
package, called RPO VYU, then
the payload your vehicle can
carry will be reduced when a
snow plow is installed. Your
vehicle can be damaged if either
the front or rear axle ratings or
the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
are exceeded.
Some vehicles are built with a
special snow plow prep package,
called RPO VYU. If your vehicle has
this option, you can add a plow to it,
provided certain weights, such as
Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65 Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-80
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-95
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-101
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-101
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-106
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-111
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-114
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-24 Vehicle Care
4. With the coolant surge tankpressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates approximately
90°C (195°F).
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches
the FULL COLD mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight and fully seated.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1 through 6.
Notice: If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.Engine Overheating
If the vehicle has the Duramax®
Diesel engine, see the Duramax
Diesel Supplement for more
information.
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature
gauge on the vehicle's instrument
panel. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑19.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) on the
instrument panel. See Engine
Cooling System Messages
on
page 5‑46and Engine Power
Messages on page 5‑47.
If the decision is made not to
lift the hood when this warning
appears, get service help right
away. See Roadside Assistance
Program on page 13‑7. If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:
Engine damage from
running your engine without
coolant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Overheated
Engine Protection Operating
Mode for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice: If the engine catches fire
while driving with no coolant, the
vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode
on
page 10‑26for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-51
FusesUsage
39 Climate Controls
(Battery)
40 Airbag System
(Ignition)
41 Amplifier
42 Audio System
43 Miscellaneous
(Ignition), Cruise
Control
44 Not Used
45 Airbag System
(Battery)
46 Instrument Panel
Cluster
47 Power Take-Off
48 Auxiliary Climate
Control (Ignition) Fuses
Usage
49 Center
High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
50 Rear Defogger
51 Heated Mirrors
52 SEO B1 Upfitter
Usage (Battery)
53 Cigarette Lighter,
Auxiliary Power
Outlet
54 SEO Upfitter
Usage
55 Climate Controls
(Ignition)
56 Engine Control
Module, Secondary
Fuel Pump
(Ignition) J-Case
Fuses Usage
57 Cooling Fan 1
58 Not Used
59 Heavy Duty
Antilock Brake
System
60 Cooling Fan 2
61 Antilock Brake
System 1
62 Starter
63 Stud 2 (Trailer
Brakes)
64 Left Bussed
Electrical Center 1
65 Not Used
66 Heated Windshield
Washer System
67 Transfer Case
Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-52 Vehicle Care
J-CaseFuses Usage
68 Stud 1 (Trailer
Connector
Battery Power)
(Optional - 40A
Fuse Required)
69 Mid-Bussed
Electrical Center 1
70 Climate Control
Blower
71 Not Used
72 Left Bussed
Electrical Center 2
Relays Usage
FAN HI Cooling Fan High
Speed
FAN LO Cooling Fan Low
Speed Relays Usage
FAN CNTRL Cooling Fan
Control
HDLP
LO/HID Low-Beam
Headlamp
FOG LAMP Front Fog Lamps
A/C
CMPRSR Air Conditioning
Compressor
STRTR Starter
PWR/TRN Powertrain
FUEL PMP Fuel Pump
PRK LAMP Parking Lamps
REAR
DEFOG Rear Defogger
RUN/CRNK Switched PowerInstrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block
access door is located on the driver
side edge of the instrument panel.
Pull off the cover to access the fuse
block.
Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-53
The vehicle may not use all of the
fuses shown.Fuses Usage
1 Rear Seats
2 Rear Accessory
Power Outlet
3 Steering Wheel
Controls Backlight
4 Driver Door Module
5 Dome Lamps, Driver
Side Turn Signal
6 Driver Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp Fuses Usage
7 Instrument Panel
Back Lighting
8 Passenger Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp
9 Passenger Door
Module, Driver Unlock
10 Power Door Lock 2
(Unlock Feature)
11 Power Door Lock 2
(Lock Feature)
12 Stoplamps, Center
High‐
Mounted
Stoplamp
13 Rear Climate Controls
14 Power Mirror
15 Body Control
Module (BCM)
16 Accessory Power
Outlets Fuses Usage
17 Interior Lamps
18 Power Door Lock 1
(Unlock Feature)
19 Rear Seat
Entertainment
20 Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist, Power
Liftgate
21 Power Door Lock 1
(Lock Feature)
22 Driver Information
Center (DIC)
23 Rear Wiper
24 Cooled Seats
25 Driver Seat Module,
Remote Keyless Entry
System
26 Driver Power Door
Lock (Unlock Feature)