Page 5 of 584
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
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)
%: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
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Page 10 of 584
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
1-4 In Brief
V.Power Outlets on page 5‑10.
W. Climate Control Systems
(with Air Conditioning) on
page 8‑1 orClimate Control
Systems (with Heater Only) on
page 8‑4 (If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 8‑5
(If Equipped).
X. Power Take Off (PTO) Control (If Equipped). See Power
Take Off (PTO) in the Duramax
diesel supplement.
Y. Passenger Airbag Off Control (If Equipped). See Airbag
On-Off Switch on page 3‑30.
Page 13 of 584

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-7
A.Air Vents on page 8‑11.
B. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑6.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑13.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑5 (Out of View).
E. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑38.
Range Selection Mode
(If Equipped). See Manual
Mode on page 9‑42.
F. Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑43
(If Equipped).
G. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑32.
H. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1. J. Integrated Trailer Brake
Controller (If Equipped).
See Trailer Towing on
page 9‑86.
K. Dome Lamps on page 6‑8.
L. Automatic Transfer Case Control (If Equipped).
See Four-Wheel Drive on
page 10‑32.
M. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑24.
N. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
O. Parking Brake on page 9‑60.
P. Cruise Control on page 9‑66.
Q. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
R. Horn on page 5‑5.
S. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑3. T.
Climate Control Systems
(with Air Conditioning) on
page 8‑1 orClimate Control
Systems (with Heater Only) on
page 8‑4 (If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 8‑5
(If Equipped).
U. Power Outlets on page 5‑10.
Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped).
See Ashtrays on page 5‑12 and
Cigarette Lighter on page 5‑11.
V. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑62 (If Equipped).
Pedal Adjust Button
(If Equipped). See Adjustable
Throttle and Brake Pedal on
page 9‑26.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑68 (If Equipped).
Exhaust Brake (If Equipped).
See “Brakes” in the Duramax
diesel supplement.
W. Passenger Airbag Off Control (If Equipped). See Airbag
On-Off Switch on page 3‑30.
Page 21 of 584

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-15
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.Safety Belts on page 3‑13.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑14.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑15.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑51.
Passenger Sensing
System
The passenger sensing system,
if equipped, turns off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other
airbag is affected by the passenger
sensing system.
If the vehicle has one of the
indicators pictured in the following
illustrations, then the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position unless
there is an airbag off switch located
in the glove box.
If there is an airbag off switch, the
vehicle does not have a passenger
sensing system. SeeAirbag On-Off
Switch on page 3‑30 for more
information. The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
overhead console when the vehicle
is started.
United States
Canada and Mexico
See Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑34 for important information.
Page 26 of 584
Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
1-20 In Brief
Climate Controls
These systems control the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Climate Control System (With Air Conditioning)
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air ConditioningE. Outside Air
F. Air Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger
Page 27 of 584
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-21
Climate Control System (With Heater Only)
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode ControlSee
Climate Control Systems
(with Air Conditioning) on page 8‑1
or Climate Control Systems
(with Heater Only) on page 8‑4.
Page 28 of 584
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
A. Driver and PassengerTemperature Controls
B. Fan Control
C. AUTO
D. Defrost
E. Air Recirculation
F. Outside Air
G. Air Delivery Mode Control H. Display
I. Power Button
J. Rear Window Defogger
K. Air Conditioning
L. PASS (Passenger)
See
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑5.
Transmission
Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch,
if equipped, is located on the shift
lever.
To enable the Range Selection
feature:
1. Move the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position.
The current range will appear
next to the M. This is the
highest attainable range with all
lower gears accessible. As an
example, when 5 (Fifth) gear
is selected, 1 (First) through
5 (Fifth) gears are available.
Page 47 of 584

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with aflat, thin object, such as a flat
head screwdriver.
.Carefully insert the tool into
the notch located along the
parting line of the
transmitter. Do not insert
the tool too far. Stop as
soon as resistance is felt.
.Twist the tool until the
transmitter is separated.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object. 3. Insert the new battery, positive
side facing down. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Remote Vehicle Start
If available, this feature allows you
to start the engine from outside of
the vehicle. It may also start up the
vehicle's heating or air conditioning
systems and rear window defogger.
Normal operation of the system will
return after the key is turned to the
ON/RUN position.
If the vehicle has an automatic
climate control system, the climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperatures. If the
vehicle does not have an automatic
climate control system, the system
will turn on at the setting the vehicle
was set to when the vehicle was
last turned off. During a remote start, if the vehicle
has an automatic climate control
system and heated seats, the
heated seats will turn on during
colder outside temperatures and will
shut off when the key is turned to
ON/RUN. If the vehicle does not
have an automatic climate control
system, during remote start,
manually turn the heated seats on
and off. See
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats on page 3‑10 for
additional information.
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
For example, some laws may
require a person using the remote
start to have the vehicle in view
when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements
on remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start
feature if the vehicle is low on fuel.
The vehicle may run out of fuel.