Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
8-8 Climate Controls
second row floor outlets. In this
mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
-(Defog):This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is
directed to the windshield, floor
outlets, and side window vents. In
this mode, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is close to
freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode.
0(Defrost): This mode removes
fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window vents,
with some directed to the floor
vents. In this mode, the system
automatically forces outside air into
the vehicle and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is close to
freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode. The passenger temperature control
cannot be activated while in defrost
mode. If the PASS button is
pressed, the button indicator flashes
three times and will not work. If the
passenger temperature buttons are
adjusted, the driver temperature
indicator changes. The passenger
temperature will not be displayed.
If vent, bi-level, or floor mode is
selected again, the climate control
system displays the previous
temperature settings.
Do not drive the vehicle until all
windows are clear.
#(Air Conditioning):
Press to
turn the air conditioning (A/C)
compressor on and off. An indicator
light comes on to show that the air
conditioning is on.
If this button is pressed when the air
conditioning compressor is
unavailable due to outside
conditions, the indicator flashes
three times and then turns off. If the
air conditioning is on and the
outside temperature drops below a temperature which is too cool for air
conditioning to be effective, the air
conditioning light turns off to show
that the air conditioning mode has
been canceled.
On hot days, open the windows long
enough to let hot inside air escape.
This helps to reduce the time it
takes for the vehicle to cool down.
It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so a
small amount of water might drip
under the vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is
normal.
@(Recirculation):
Press to turn
the recirculation mode on. An
indicator light comes on to show
that recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to
quickly cool the air inside the
vehicle. It can be used to help
prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle.
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
Climate Controls 8-9
The recirculation mode cannot be
used with floor, defog, or defrost
modes. If recirculation is selected
with one of those modes, the
indicator light flashes three times
and then turns off. The air
conditioning compressor also comes
on when this mode is activated.
While in recirculation mode, the
windows may fog when the weather
is cold and damp. To clear the fog,
select either the defog or defrost
mode and increase the fan speed.
The recirculation mode can be
turned off by pressing the outside
air button, or by turning off the
ignition.
;(Outside Air):Press to turn the
outside air mode on. An indicator
light on the button comes on to
show that outside is on. When
selected, air from outside the
vehicle circulates throughout the
vehicle. The recirculation mode
cannot be used with the outside
air mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the
rear window.
1(Rear Window Defogger): For
vehicles with this feature, press to
turn the defogger on or off.
It automatically turns off several
minutes after it has been activated.
The defogger can also be turned off
by turning the engine off. Do not
drive the vehicle until all windows
are clear.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade
or sharp object to clear the inside
rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid
lines in the rear glass. These
actions may damage the rear
defogger. Repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
Heated Mirror: For vehicles with
heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors heat to help clear fog or frost
from the surface of the mirror when the rear window defog button is
pressed. See
Power Mirrors on
page 2‑14.
Sensors
The solar sensor, located in the
defrost grille in the middle of the
instrument panel, monitors the solar
heat. Do not cover the solar sensor
or the system will not work properly.
Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
9-8 Driving and Operating
{WARNING
If the vehicle has the two‐speed
automatic transfer case, shifting
the transfer case to N (Neutral)
can cause your vehicle to roll
even if the transmission is in
P (Park). This is because the
N (Neutral) position on the
transfer case overrides the
transmission. You or someone
else could be injured. If leaving
the vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift the transmission to
P (Park). Shift the transfer case to
any position but N (Neutral).
.When driving down a hill, keep
the vehicle headed straight
down. Use a low gear because
the engine will work with the
brakes to slow the vehicle and
help keep the vehicle under
control.
{WARNING
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill:
1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the
parking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle,
it is steep enough to cause
it to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down
the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
.The vehicle can roll
backward quickly and you
could lose control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a
lower gear, release the
parking brake, and drive
straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking
brake, shift an automatic
transmission into P (Park), and
turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
9-10 Driving and Operating
Driving in Water
{WARNING
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
Notice: Do not drive through
standing water if it is deep
enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles or exhaust pipe. Deep water
can damage the axle and other
vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the
ignition system and the vehicle can
stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the tailpipe under water. While the tailpipe is under water, you will
not be able to start the engine.
When going through water, the
brakes get wet, and it might take
longer to stop. See Driving on Wet
Roads.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody,
or chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a fire
hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule for more
information.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
(Continued)
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-13
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑7 orRoadside Assistance
Program (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑11. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems” in
the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑32.
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help
with the headlamps. Do this as little
as possible to save fuel.
Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
9-14 Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See“Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out”later in this section.
If the vehicle has a traction system,
it can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to the vehicle's
traction system in the Index. If stuck
too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction
system off and use the rocking
method.
{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph). For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see
Tire
Chains on page 10‑71.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. For four-wheel-drive
vehicles, shift into Four-Wheel High.
For vehicles with StabiliTrak
®, turn
the traction control part of the
system off. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. Recovery hooks can be used, if the vehicle
has them. If the vehicle does need
to be towed out, see
Towing the
Vehicle on page 10‑89.
Recovery Hooks
{WARNING
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
9-26 Driving and Operating
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
C (ON/RUN): This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. This position
can also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time. D (START):
This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
If the vehicle is equipped with a
radio, a warning tone will sound
when the driver door is opened, the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF and the key is in the
ignition.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax®diesel
supplement for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Notice: If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
on page 9‑105. Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:
Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in
N (Neutral) and the parking brake
engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
down to the floor and start the
engine. The vehicle will not start if
the clutch pedal is not all the
way down.
Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 8/13/12
9-28 Driving and Operating
Fast Idle System
If the vehicle has this feature it is
available only with cruise control.
The manual fast idle switch is
operated using the cruise control
buttons located on the left hand side
of the steering wheel.
This system can be used to
increase engine idle speed
whenever the following conditions
are met:
.The parking brake is set.
.The brake pedal is not pressed.
.The vehicle must not be moving
and the accelerator must not be
pressed.
To control the fast idle:
.To enable the Fast Idle System,
press and release the cruise
control on/off button and ensure
that the switch indicator light
is lit.
.Press and release the cruise
control SET-button. Engine
speed will be held at
approximately 1200 RPM.
When the fast idle is active the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display “FAST IDLE ON.”
One of the following actions will turn
off the fast idle:
.Pressing the brake.
.Selecting the cruise control
cancel button.
.Releasing the parking brake.
.The transmission shift lever is
moved out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral).
.Selecting the cruise control on/
off button when it was
previously on.
.Pressing the cruise control
SET-button a second time.
.Pressing the accelerator greater
than a quarter of the way down.
.Turning the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories
can be used for up to 10 minutes
after the engine is turned off:
.Audio System
.Power Windows
.OnStar System (if equipped)
.Sunroof (if equipped)
These features work when the key
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF,
the windows and sunroof continue
to work up to 10 minutes until any
door is opened. The radio continues
to work for up to 10 minutes or until
the driver door is opened.