2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO four wheel drive

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel(Base/Uplevel Version) . . . . . . 1-2
Instrument Panel (Premium Version) . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16 Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-19
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-26
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-27
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-30
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Universal Remote System . . . 1-30
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-33
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-33
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-34
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-34
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-34
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-35
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-35

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-3
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. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑32.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑5 (Out of View).
E. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑13.
F. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑38.
Tow/Haul Selector Button
(If Equipped). See Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑43.
Range Selection Mode (Allison
Transmission and Hydra-Matic
®
6‐Speed Button) (If Equipped).
See Manual Mode on
page 9‑42. G.
Infotainment on page 7‑1.
H. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
I. Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (If Equipped).
See Trailer Towing on
page 9‑86.
J. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
K. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑24.
L. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
M. Parking Brake on page 9‑60.
N. Dome Lamps on page 6‑8.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑6
(If Equipped).
O. Cruise Control on page 9‑66.
P. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
Q. Horn on page 5‑5. R.
Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑3 (If Equipped).
S. Automatic Transfer Case Control (If Equipped).
See Four-Wheel Drive on
page 10‑32.
T. Ashtray (If Equipped). See Ashtrays on page 5‑12
and Cigarette Lighter on
page 5‑11.
U. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑62 (If Equipped).
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑68 (If Equipped).
Pedal Adjust Button
(If Equipped). See Adjustable
Throttle and Brake Pedal on
page 9‑26.
Exhaust Brake (If Equipped).
See “Brakes” in the Duramax
diesel supplement.

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.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-23
2. Press the plus/minus buttons,located on the steering column
shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current driving
conditions. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑42.
While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul
mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑43.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has Four-Wheel Drive,
you can send the engine's driving
power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Transfer Case Buttons
The vehicle will have one of these
three styles of transfer case
controls. Use these controls to
shift into and out of the different
Four-Wheel Drive modes.
Manual Transfer Case
This transfer case shift lever is on
the floor to the right of the driver. Electronic Transfer Case
This transfer case knob is located
next to the steering column.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
1-24 In Brief
Automatic Transfer Case
This transfer case knob is located
next to the steering column.Each transfer case design offers
different drive options. The list
below describes the different drive
options that may be available.
2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):
This setting is used for driving in
most street and highway situations.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive): This setting is ideal for
use when road surface traction
conditions are variable.
4
m(Four-Wheel High): Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position
when extra traction is needed, such
as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. N (Neutral):
Shift the transfer case
to Neutral only when towing the
vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10‑97 orTrailer
Towing on page 9‑86.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low):
This setting sends maximum power
to all four wheels. You might choose
Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you are
driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, deep snow, and while climbing
or descending steep hills.
See Four-Wheel Drive on
page 9‑45.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . 5-17
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-19
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-20
Airbag On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-23
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . 5-28
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-28
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-28
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-29
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-30
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-30
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-31
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Battery Voltage andCharging Messages . . . . . . . . 5-42
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-42
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-45
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-46
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-46
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-46
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-48
Anti-theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
5-28 Instruments and Controls
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5‑26.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), see Brake
System Messages on page 5‑42 for
all brake‐related DIC messages.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Four-Wheel-Drive Light
For vehicles equipped with the
four-wheel-drive light, it comes on
when a vehicle with a manual transfer case is shifted into
four-wheel drive and the front axle
engages.
Some delay between the shifting
and the light coming on is normal.
See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 9‑45
for more information.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
For vehicles with the Tow/Haul
Mode feature, this light comes on
when the Tow/Haul Mode has been
activated.
For more information, see Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑43.
StabiliTrak®OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light then goes off.
Press and release the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
button to turn off TCS, and a
message displays in the DIC.
Press and briefly hold the
TCS/StabiliTrak button to turn off
the StabiliTrak system; the
StabiliTrak Off light comes on and
a message appears in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).

Black plate (50,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
5-50 Instruments and Controls
Transmission Messages
SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive,
this message may display if a
problem occurs with the
four-wheel-drive system. If this
message appears, stop as soon as
possible and turn off the vehicle.
Make sure the key is in the
LOCK/OFF position for at least
one minute and then 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
four-wheel-drive system needs
service. See your dealer.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
Notice:If you drive the vehicle
while the transmission fluid is
overheating and the transmission
temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster
and/or DIC, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to
costly repairs that would not be
covered by the warranty. Do not
drive the vehicle with overheated
transmission fluid or while the
transmission temperature
warning is displayed.
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the transmission fluid
in the vehicle gets hot. Driving with
the transmission fluid temperature
high can cause damage to the
vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it
idle to allow the transmission to
cool. This message clears and
the chime stops when the fluid
temperature reaches a safe level.
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
CHECK TRAILER WIRING
On vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
this message may display and a
chime may sound when one of the
following conditions exists:
.A trailer with electric brakes
becomes disconnected from the
vehicle.
‐ If the disconnect occurs while
the vehicle is stopped, this
message clears itself after a
short time.
‐ If the disconnect occurs while
the vehicle is moving, this
message stays on until the
ignition is turned off.
.There is a short in the wiring to
the electric trailer brakes.