Page 257 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
256 Climate Controls
quickly cool the inside of the
vehicle. It can also be used to help
reduce outside air and odors that
enter the vehicle. The air
conditioning compressor also comes
on when this mode is activated.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the
rear window.
K(Rear Window Defogger) :
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only
works when the ignition is in ON/
RUN. The defogger turns off if the
ignition is turned to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp
object to clear the inside rear
window can damage the rear
window defogger. Repairs would
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not clear the inside
rear window with sharp objects.
Heated Mirror : If equipped 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 Heated Mirrors 050.
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. There is also an exterior
temperature sensor behind the front
grille. This sensor reads the outside
air temperature and helps maintain
the temperature inside the vehicle.
Any cover on the front of the vehicle
including a snow plow, could cause
a false reading in the displayed
temperature.
Some vehicles may have the
exterior temperature sensor in the
passenger side mirror instead of the
front grille area.
The climate control system uses the
information from these sensors to
maintain comfort settings by
adjusting the outlet temperature, fan
speed, and the air delivery mode.
The system may also supply cooler
air to the side of the vehicle facing
the sun. The recirculation mode will
also be used as needed to maintain
cool outlet temperatures.
Page 258 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
Climate Controls 257
Air Vents
Use the air vents in the center and
on the side of the instrument panel
to direct airflow. Use the
thumbwheels near the air vents to
open or close off the airflow.
Air vents blow warm air on the side
windows in cold weather. If Floor,
Defog, or Defrost modes are
selected, a small amount of air will
come from the vents close to the
window. If the airflow is shut off
using the thumbwheels, warm air
will be directed to the other
instrument panel vents. This is
normal operation.
Use the thumbwheels to turn vent
airflow on or off based on the mode
selected.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle. .
Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter reduces the dust, pollen,
and other airborne irritants from
outside air that is pulled into the
vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
See Maintenance Schedule 0462.
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts 0474.
Page 259 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
258 Climate Controls
1. Open the lower glove box doorcompletely.
2. Remove the four screws from around the lower glove box.
The door does not need to be
removed to access the screws.
3. Close the lower glove box doorand pull it from its frame to
remove the entire unit.
4. Release the two tabs holding
the service door. Open the
service door and remove the
old filter.
5. Install the new air filter.
6. Close the service door and secure the tabs.
7. Reverse the steps to reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system
should only be serviced by trained
and certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should
never be repaired or replaced by
one from a salvage vehicle.
It should only be replaced by a new
evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants
should be reclaimed with proper
equipment. Venting refrigerants
directly to the atmosphere is harmful
to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite,
or other health-based concerns.
Page 260 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 259
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 268
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 269
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 271
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 280
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 285
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . 288
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 289
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 296
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 307
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 310
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 314
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 314
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) (2500/3500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 324
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Page 261 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
260 Driving and Operating
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 354
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
. Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions. .
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Page 262 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 261
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety
Belts 066.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Page 263 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
262 Driving and Operating
Steering
Electric Power Steering (1500
Series)
If the vehicle has electric power
steering, it does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is
held in that position for an extended
period of time, power steering assist
may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underSteering System
Messages 0161.
Hydraulic Power Steering
(2500/3500 Series)
(2500/3500 Series –All Regular
Cab, Double Cab/Crew Cab
without Digital Steer Assist)
The power steering system may
require maintenance. See Power
Steering Fluid (1500 Series) 0385
or Power Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) 0385.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
system malfunctions, the vehicle
can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
(2500/3500 Series –Double Cab/
Crew Cab with Digital Steer
Assist)
The vehicle has a Digital Steer
Assist power steering system that
varies the amount of effort required
to steer the vehicle. Less steering
effort is required at slower speeds.
At faster speeds, the steering effort
increases. The system helps the
steering wheel return to center at
low speeds. Pressing the Tow/Haul button adjusts steering effort for
driving conditions described in
Tow/
Haul Mode 0295.
The power steering system may
require maintenance, see Power
Steering Fluid (1500 Series) 0385
or Power Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) 0385.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
system malfunctions, the vehicle
can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
Page 264 of 533

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 263
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.