2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO battery

Black plate (104,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
9-104 Driving and Operating
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. If the trailer being
towed weighs up to 2 271 kg
(5,000 lbs) with a factory-installed
step bumper, safety chains may be
attached to the attaching points on
the bumper; otherwise, safety
chains should be attached to holes
on the trailer hitch platform. Always
leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lbs) needs to
have its own brake system that is
adequate for the weight of the
trailer. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system.
Auxiliary Battery
The auxiliary battery provision can
be used to supply electrical power
to additional equipment that may be
added, such as a slide-in camper.
If the vehicle has this provision, this
relay will be located on the driver
side of the vehicle, next to the
underhood electrical center.
Be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with any electrical equipment that is
installed.Notice:
Leaving electrical
equipment on for extended
periods will drain the battery.
Always turn off electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not use equipment that
exceeds the maximum amperage
rating for the auxiliary battery
provision.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The vehicle is equipped with one of
the following wiring harnesses for
towing a trailer or hauling a slide-in
camper.
Basic Trailer Wiring
All regular, extended cab and crew
cab pickups have a seven‐wire
trailer towing harness.
For vehicles not equipped with
heavy duty trailering, the harness
is secured to the vehicle's frame
behind the spare tire mount.
The harness requires the installation
of a trailer connector, which is
available through your dealer.

Black plate (105,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-105
If towing a light‐duty trailer with a
standard four‐way round pin
connector, an adapter is available
from your dealer.
Heavy-DutyTrailer Wiring Harness
Package
For vehicles equipped with heavy
duty trailering, the harness
connector is mounted in the bumper.The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed*
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuses for these two circuits are
installed in the underhood electrical
center, but the wires are not
connected. They should be
connected by your dealer or a
qualified service center. The fuse
and wire for the ITBC is factory
installed and connected if the
vehicle is equipped with an ITBC. The fuse for the battery feed is
not required if the vehicle has an
auxiliary battery. If the vehicle does
not have an auxiliary battery, have
your dealer or authorized service
center install the required fuse.
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button, if equipped, located at the
end of the shift lever. This will boost
the vehicle system voltage and
properly charge the battery. If the
trailer is too light for Tow/Haul
Mode, or the vehicle is not
equipped with Tow/Haul, turn on
the headlamps as a second way
to boost the vehicle system and
charge the battery.

Black plate (106,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
9-106 Driving and Operating
Camper/Fifth-Wheel Trailer
Wiring Package
The seven-wire camper harness is
located under the front edge of the
pickup box on the driver side of the
vehicle, attached to the frame
bracket. A connector must be
added to the wiring harness which
connects to the camper.
The harness contains the following
camper/trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If the vehicle is equipped with the
“Heavy-Duty Trailering”option,
please refer to “Heavy-Duty Trailer
Wiring Package” earlier in this
section.
When the camper-wiring harness is
ordered without the heavy-duty
trailering package, a seven-wire
harness with a seven-pin connector
is located at the rear of the vehicle
and is tied to the vehicle's frame.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. These
provisions are for an electric brake
controller. The instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires behind the
steering column for the trailer brake
controller. The harness contains the
following wires:
.Dark Blue: Brake Signal to
Trailer Connector
.Red/Black: Battery
.Light Blue/White: Brake Switch
.White: Ground
The harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
If the vehicle is equipped with an
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) System, the blunt cuts exist,
but are not connected further in the

Black plate (115,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-115
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's 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 3‑38 andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑39.
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 the vehicle does not
have the snow plow prep
package, adding a plow can
damage the vehicle, and the
repairs would not be covered by
warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to the vehicle. If the
vehicle has the snow plow prep
package, called RPO VYU, then
the payload the vehicle can carry
will be reduced when a snow
plow is installed. The 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 the vehicle has
this option, you can add a plow to it,
provided certain weights, such as
the weights on the vehicle's axles
and the Gross Vehicle
Weight (GVW), are not exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry
depends on many things, such as:
.The options the vehicle came
with, and the weight of those
options.
.The weight and number of
passengers intended to be
carried.
.The weight of items added to
the vehicle, like a tool box or
truck cap.
.The total weight of any
additional cargo intended to be
carried.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid (4-Speed Transmission) . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-17
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-23
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-27
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Noise Control System . . . . . . 10-36
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-36
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-39
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Pick-Up Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-45
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-45

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-7
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑17.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑19.
C. Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump
Starting on page 10‑92.
D. Battery on page 10‑31.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10‑92.
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid (4-Speed Transmission)
on page 10‑11 orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission) on page 10‑14.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑7. H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 10‑7.
I. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑19.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑27.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brake Fluid on
page 10‑30.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑47.
M. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑28.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax Diesel Supplement.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles,
see “Engine Oil” in the Duramax
Diesel Supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity grade.
See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-31
After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level is above the MIN but not over
the MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid.Notice
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts.
For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the
brake hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
Battery
If the vehicle is a Hybrid, see the
Hybrid Supplement for more
information.
This vehicle has a maintenance free
battery (or batteries). Refer to the
replacement number on the original
battery label when a new battery is
needed. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for battery
location.
{WARNING
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 10‑92 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 to determine when to
check the lubricant.
How to Check Lubricant
Electric Shift Transfer Case
A. Fill Plug
B. Drain Plug
Manual Shift Transfer Case
A. Fill Plug
B. Drain Plug