2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO service

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 (71,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-71
The system should initialize before
the vehicle reaches 32 km/h
(20 mph). In some cases, it may
take approximately 3.2 km (2 miles)
of driving before the system
initializes.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be
re-engaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control
on
page 9‑73for more information.
If the system fails to turn on or
activate, the StabiliTrak light
along with one of the following
messages will be displayed on the
Driver Information Center (DIC):
TRACTION CONTROL OFF,
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,
STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE
STABILITRAK. If these DIC
messages appear, make sure
the StabiliTrak system has not
been turned off using the StabiliTrak
on/off button. Then turn the vehicle
off, wait 15 seconds, and turn it
back on again to reset the system. If any of these messages still
appear on the DIC, the vehicle
should be taken in for service.
For more information on the DIC
messages, see
Ride Control System
Messages on page 5‑49.The StabiliTrak light will flash on the
instrument panel cluster when the
system is both on and activated.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working; this is normal.
The traction control disable button
is located on the instrument panel
below the climate controls. The Traction Control System (TCS)
part of StabiliTrak can be turned
off by pressing and releasing the
StabiliTrak button. To disable both
TCS and StabiliTrak, press and
hold
5untilFilluminates and the
appropriate DIC message displays.
TCS and StabiliTrak can be turned
on by pressing and releasing the
StabiliTrak button if they are not
automatically shut off for any other
reason.
When TCS or StabiliTrak is
turned off, the StabiliTrak light
and the appropriate message
will be displayed on the DIC to
warn the driver. The vehicle will still
have brake-traction control when
traction control is off, but will not
be able to use the engine speed
management system. See “Traction
Control Operation” next for more
information.
When the traction control system
has been turned off, system noises
may still be heard as a result of the
brake-traction control coming on.

Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-73
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that
a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer for service.
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature. SeeTrailer
Sway Control (TSC) on page 9‑123.
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature. See Hill Start Assist
(HSA) on page 9‑70.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but
when traction is low, this feature will
allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
For vehicles with cruise control, a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph)
or more can be maintained
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph). When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off.
For vehicles with an Allison or
Hydra‐Matic 6‐speed automatic
transmission, see
“Grade Braking
and Cruise Grade Braking (Allison
Transmission) under Tow/Haul
Mode
on page 9‑49for an
explanation of how cruise control
interacts with the Range Selection
Mode, tow/haul and grade braking
systems.
For vehicles with the StabiliTrak
system that begins to limit wheel
spin while you are using cruise
control, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak
®Systemon page 9‑70.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.

Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-77
The system can be disabled by
pressing the rear park aid disable
button located next to the radio.
The indicator light comes on and
PARK ASSIST OFF displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) to
indicate that URPA is off; seeObject
Detection System Messages
on
page 5‑48.
Notice: If you use URPA while the
tailgate is lowered, it may not
detect an object behind your
vehicle, and you might back into
the object and damage your
vehicle. Always verify the tailgate
is closed when using URPA or
turn off URPA when driving with
the tailgate lowered.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The following messages may be
displayed on the DIC:
SERVICE PARK ASSIST: If this
message occurs, take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: This message
occurs if the driver disables the
system.
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL: This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see “Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care
on
page 10‑106.
.The park assist sensors are
covered by frost or ice. Frost or
ice can form around and behind
the sensors and may not always
be seen; this can occur after washing the vehicle in cold
weather. The message may not
clear until the frost or ice has
melted.
.A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the tailgate
during the last drive cycle. Once
the attached object is removed
and the tailgate is raised, URPA
will return to normal operation.
.A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
.The vehicle's bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions are affecting
system performance. Examples
of this are vibrations from a
jackhammer or the compression
of air brakes on a very large
truck.
If the system is still disabled after
driving forward at least 40 km/h
(25 mph), take the vehicle to your
dealer.

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-80 Driving and Operating
Symbols
The navigation system may have
a feature that lets the driver view
symbols on the navigation screen
while using the RVC. The Ultrasonic
Rear Park Assist (URPA) system
must not be disabled to use the
caution symbols. If URPA has
been disabled and the symbols
have been turned on, the Rear
Parking Assist Symbols Unavailable
error message may display.
SeeUltrasonic Parking Assist
on
page 9‑76.
The symbols appear when an object
has been detected by the URPA
system. The symbol may cover the
object when viewing the navigation
screen.
To turn the symbols on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has not been disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park). 3. Press the MENU hard key
to enter the configure menu
options, then press the MENU
hard key repeatedly until Display
is selected or touch the Display
screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen will display.
5. Touch the Symbols screen button. The screen button will
be highlighted when on.Rear Vision Camera Error
Messages
Service Rear Vision Camera
System: This message can display
when the system is not receiving
information it requires from other
vehicle systems.
If any other problem occurs or if a
problem persists, see your dealer.
Rear Vision Camera Location
The rear vision camera is located in
the bezel for the tailgate handle.
The camera uses a special lens.
The distance of the image that
appears on the screen differs from
the actual distance. The area
displayed by the camera is limited.
The camera does not display
objects which are close to either
corner of the bumper or under the
bumper. The area displayed on
the screen can vary according
to vehicle orientation or road
conditions.

Black plate (84,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-84 Driving and Operating
Recommended Fuel
For all vehicles except those with
the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 2),
use regular unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of 87
or higher. If the octane rating is
less than 87, an audible knocking
noise, commonly referred to as
spark knock, might be heard
when driving. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, the engine needs service.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine
(VIN Code 2), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.
You can also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, but the vehicle's acceleration
could be slightly reduced, and
a slight audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as sparkknock, might be heard. If the octane
is less than 87, you might notice a
heavy knocking noise when you
drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. Otherwise, you
could damage the engine. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline
should meet ASTM specification
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See
Fuel Additives
on page 9‑85for additional
information.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards,
it is designed to operate on fuels
that meet California specifications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog‐check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on
page 5‑27. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Black plate (86,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-86 Driving and Operating
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines
might be available in your area.
We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty. Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission
control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp
might turn on. If this occurs, return
to your dealer for service.Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
For all other vehicles, use only the
unleaded gasoline described under
Recommended Fuel on page 9‑84.
We encourage the use of E85 in
vehicles that are designed to use it.
The ethanol in E85 is a
“renewable”
fuel, meaning it is made from
renewable sources such as corn
and other crops.
Many service stations will not have
an 85% ethanol fuel (E85) pump
available. The U.S. Department
of Energy has an alternative fuels
website (www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/
infrastructure/locator.html) that
can help you find E85 fuel.

Black plate (94,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-94 Driving and Operating
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
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. Do not tow a trailer during break‐in.
See
New Vehicle Break-In
on
page 9‑32for more information.
{WARNING
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well or even at all. The driver and
passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.