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.
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 (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.
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
2-16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Resetting the Power Foldaway
Mirrors
Reset the power foldaway mirrors if:
.The mirrors are accidentally
obstructed while folding.
.They are accidentally manually
folded/unfolded.
.The mirrors will not stay in the
unfolded position.
.The mirrors vibrate at normal
driving speeds.
Fold and unfold the mirrors one time
using the mirror controls to reset
them to their normal position.
A popping noise may be heard
during the resetting of the power
foldaway mirrors. This sound is
normal after a manual folding
operation.
Manual Foldaway
Manually fold the mirrors inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward,
to return to its original position.
Automatic Dimming
If equipped with an automatic
dimming mirror, the driver outside
mirror adjusts for the glare of the
headlamps behind you. See
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
on page 2‑17.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may also have a turn
signal indicator on the mirror. An
arrow on the mirror flashes in the
direction of the turn or lane change.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
1(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors. If the
vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated.
The lower convex part of the towing
mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle's features,
see “Rear Window Defogger” under
Climate Control Systems (with Air
Conditioning) on page 8‑1 or
Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) on page 8‑4 orDual
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5 for more information.
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
3-10 Seats and Restraints
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats
{WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures.
To reduce the risk of burns,
people with such a condition
should use care when using the
seat heater, especially for long
periods of time. Do not place
anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as
a blanket, cushion, cover,
or similar item. This may cause
the seat heater to overheat.
An overheated seat heater may
cause a burn or may damage
the seat.
Heated and Cooled Seat
Buttons Shown, Heated Seat Buttons Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
front doors.
H(Cooled Seat): If available,
press to cool the seat.
I(Heated Seatback): Press to
heat the seatback only.
J(Heated Seat and Seatback):
Press to heat the seat and
seatback. Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the seat will change to
the next lower setting, and then to
the off setting. The lights indicate
three for the highest setting and one
for the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
On vehicles with heated seats,
the heated seats are canceled
10 seconds after the ignition is
turned off.
On vehicles with heated and cooled
seats, the heated and cooled seats
are canceled when the ignition is
turned off.
To use this feature after restarting
the vehicle, press the desired button
again.
Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
3-36 Seats and Restraints
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator will light and stay lit to
remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑22.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on (may inflate) the
right front passenger frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting
properly in the right front
passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the
airbag is active. For some children, including
children in child restraints, and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon
the person's seating posture and
body build. Everyone in your
vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety belt
properly
—whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
{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. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑20 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator is Lit for a
Child Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat Position) on
page 3‑60 orSecuring Child
Restraints (Center Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑62 or
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat Position) on
page 3‑63.
Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-37
5. If, after reinstalling the childrestraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit,
turn the vehicle off. Then slightly
recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion,
if adjustable, to make sure that
the vehicle seatback is not
pushing the child restraint into
the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under the
vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head
restraint. See Head Restraints
on page 3‑2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the
airbag for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the
child’s seating posture and body
build. It is better to secure the
child restraint in a rear seat.If the Off Indicator is Lit for an
Adult-Size Occupant
If a person of adult-size is sitting
in the right front passenger seat,
but the off indicator is lit, it could
be because that person is not
sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, use the following
steps to allow the system to detect
that person and enable the right
front passenger frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material
from the seat, such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with legs comfortably
extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for
two to three minutes after the on
indicator is lit.
Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
3-38 Seats and Restraints
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers
and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system
maintain the passenger airbag
status. See“Safety Belts” and
“Child Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about the
importance of proper restraint use.
If the shoulder portion of the belt is
pulled out all the way, the child
restraint locking feature will be
engaged. This may unintentionally
cause the passenger sensing
system to turn the airbag off for
some adult size occupants. If this
happens, let the belt go back all the
way and start again. A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well
the passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See
Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑39 for more information
about modifications that can affect
how the system operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop or
other electronic device, is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired, remove the object from
the seat.
{WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are
parts of the airbag system in
several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual,
see Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17.