2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO charging

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer
to the Index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-5
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-21
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-22
Airbag On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-26
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . 5-31
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-31
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . 5-31
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-32
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-33
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
High-Beam on Light . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-33
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Battery Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-44
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-47
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-47
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-48
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-48
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-50
Anti-Theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Starting the Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-52
Vehicle Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . 5-53

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 (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.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-43
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See“CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON”
under Engine Oil Messages
on
page 5‑47. You should change
the oil as soon as you can.
See Engine Oil
on page 10‑7.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on
page 11‑2for more information.
Remember, you must reset the
OIL LIFE display after each oil
change. It will not reset itself. Also,
be careful not to reset the OIL LIFE
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the engine oil life system,
see Engine Oil Life System
on
page 10‑9.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle
or some action may be needed
to correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not
require immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V(Set/Reset) or the trip
odometer reset stem.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously and clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY LOW START
VEHICLE
When the vehicle’ s battery is
severely discharged, this message
will display and four chimes
will sound. Start the vehicle
immediately. If the vehicle is not
started and the battery continues
to discharge, the climate controls,
heated seats, and audio systems
will shut off and the vehicle may
require a jump start. These systems
will function again after the vehicle
is started.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-44 Instruments and Controls
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem
with the battery charging system.
Under certain conditions, the
charging system light may also turn
on in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeCharging System Light
on
page 5‑26. Driving with this
problem could drain the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Have the electrical
system checked as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
Brake System Messages
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with
the brake system warning light if
there is a problem with the brake
system. See Brake System Warning
Light
on page 5‑29. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem with
the brake system. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service. See your
dealer.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-9
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
The vehicle has an illuminated entry
feature.
When the doors are opened, the
dome lamps will come on if the
dome override button is in the
extended position. If the dome
override button is pressed in,
the lamps will not come on.
Exit Lighting
The interior lamps come on when
the key is removed from the ignition.
They turn off automatically in
20 seconds. The lights do not come
on if the dome override button is
pressed in.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all
the power that is needed for very
high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on,
such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed
to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.