Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 171
a gasoline engine. So, your engine
must crank faster than a gasoline
engine before it will start.
To be sure the engine can turn fast
enough to start, use SAE 10W-40
viscosity engine oil when prevailing
temperatures drop below 0 °C (32 °
F). See the oil quality and oil
viscosity recommendations. Using
the proper viscosity oil will make
starting easier down to -23 °C (-10 °
F). When prevailing temperatures
drop below -23 °C (-10 °F), the
optional engine block heater may be
needed for starting.
Maintenance Items to Aid Cold
Weather Starting
Since the basic principle of diesel
engine ignition is based on
compression, the diesel engine is
somewhat harder to start than a
gasoline engine when the
temperature is below freezing.
To help prevent hard starting
problems, special attention should
be given to following normal
maintenance items:1. Neglecting to have the fuel
filter and water separator
serviced can be one of the
major contributors to hard
starting. If water is permitted to
accumulate in the primary filter,
it will freeze and make starting
the engine impossible.
2. Make sure the fuel tank vent is open.
3. Always refuel at the end of a day's operation. Moisture will
condense in an empty tank;
therefore, the tank should be
filled before leaving the vehicle
standing for an extended
period.
Do not use starting aids in the air
intake system. Such aids can cause
immediate engine damage. See
Fuel for Diesel Engines 0232.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the diesel engine,
take the following steps: 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. 3. Move the selector lever to the
P position and make sure that
the shift indicator shows P.
4. Allow the engine to idle for approximately 3 minutes.
5. Turn the engine control switch to the ACC or LOCK position.
Do not shut down the engine
immediately after driving the vehicle.
Otherwise, a seizure or other
failures may result.
To prevent the battery from going
dead, turn the engine control switch
to the ACC or LOCK position after
stopping the engine. If you leave the
vehicle for an extended period of
time, place the engine control switch
in the LOCK position.
Let the engine idle for 3 minutes
before shutting off the engine. This
allows the turbocharger to slow
down while keeping the bearings
lubricated.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 205
Starting
Start the engine in either the P or
the N position. The engine should
not start in any other selector
position. If it does, something is
wrong. Have your truck checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
Always apply either the foot brake
or the parking brake before shifting
into any driving position. This will
prevent creeping.
The engine should be running at
idle when shifting from P or N to one
of the driving positions. See
Selector Lever0214.
Caution
Do not apply water from a
high-pressure washer nozzle
directly to the electric connectors.
Failure to observe this precaution
can lead to faulty operation of the
electrical system.
Caution
Never move the selector into the
P position when the vehicle is in
motion. This will damage the
automatic transmission.
Firmly press the brake pedal to
prevent the vehicle from moving
even if it is stopped on a level road,
and move the selector lever into P
and firmly apply the parking brake
as needed.
The engine speed rises and
creeping will be stronger than usual
during the conditions noted below.
Keep the brake pedal firmly
pressed:
. Immediately after engine
start up.
. While the air conditioner is
running.
. For diesel vehicles, during the
diesel particulate filter (DPF)
regeneration. How to Use the Automatic
Transmission{Warning
Before starting the engine, move
the selector lever into P or N (P is
preferred), make sure the shift
indicator indicates P or N, pull up
the parking brake lever and firmly
press the brake pedal.
When moving the selector lever to
any position other than P, be sure
to press the brake pedal.
Never leave the driver's seat with
the selector lever placed in D, 2,
1 or R (diesel engine), or D6, D4,
2, 1, or R (gasoline engine). The
vehicle may start moving. When
leaving the driver's seat, be sure
to move the selector lever into P
and securely set the parking
brake.
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
206 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
When you move the selector lever
into D, 2, 1 or R (diesel engine),
or D6, D4, 2, 1, or R (gasoline
engine), creep will cause the
vehicle to move.
When pulling away from a
standstill, you must control the
speed using only the accelerator
pedal. Operate the accelerator
pedal carefully.
Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. The vehicle may make a
sudden start, possibly causing an
accident.
For gasoline vehicles, do not
drive the vehicle with the
transmission in neutral. Not only
will the engine brake not function,
but the transmission will also be
damaged.
You and others could be seriously
injured.When pulling away, visually check
the position of the selector lever.
If you always press the push button
while operating the selector lever,
the lever may occasionally move to
the other gear position against your
intentions.
Practice operating the selector lever
between the N and D (diesel engine)
or D6/D4 (gasoline engine) without
pressing the push button.
Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. Doing so is dangerous
because the vehicle would
suddenly move.
Do not operate the automatic
transmission at or near stall
condition for more than
five seconds. Stall condition is when
the transmission is in one of the
driving ranges, the engine is running
at high speed, but the drive wheels
are unable to move. This condition
might occur if the vehicle is stuck in
deep sand or is pushing against a
fixed barrier. Operating the
transmission at stall condition will
result in overheating and damage. Do not hold your vehicle on an
upgrade with the accelerator pedal.
Doing so will result in automatic
transmission overheating and
damage. Use the parking brake or
foot brake to hold the vehicle on an
upgrade.
Even if you plan to move only a
short distance, sit in the correct
driving position and make sure you
can firmly press the brake and
accelerator pedals.
When you reverse, you twist to look
rearward so pedal operation
becomes difficult. Firmly press the
brake pedal. Also, practice returning
the selector lever immediately to the
N position after reversing. When
pulling away, visually check the
selector lever position and the shift
indicator.
When the vehicle is stopped, do not
keep pressing the accelerator pedal
with the selector lever in a forward
gear or R position while pressing
the brake pedal. Doing so may
cause a breakdown.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 207
Sit in the correct driving position,
and use your right foot to operate
the brake and accelerator pedals.
To avoid accidentally pressing the
wrong pedal, check the pedal
positions and practice putting your
foot on the desired pedal.
To start your vehicle:1. Firmly press the brake pedal. After making sure the selector
lever is placed into P or N, that
P or N is shown in the shift
indicator and that the parking
brake lever is fully pulled up,
place the engine control switch
into the ON position.
2. Start the engine and move the selector lever into D (diesel
engine) or D6/D4 (gasoline
engine) for forward movement,
or R for backward movement
while firmly pressing the brake
pedal with your right foot.
3. Make sure that the shift indicator indicates the correct
gear (D (diesel engine) or D6/
D4 (gasoline engine) for
forward movement, or R for
backward movement), release the parking brake, release the
brake pedal, and then
gradually press the accelerator
pedal. The vehicles starts
moving as you press the
accelerator pedal further.
On a steep slope:
Make sure that the shift indicator
indicates the correct gear (D (diesel
engine) or D6/D4 (gasoline engine)
for forward movement, or R for
backward movement), check the
area around the vehicle is clear,
release the brake pedal with your
right foot, and then slowly press the
accelerator pedal.
After you feel the vehicle start
moving, gradually release the
parking brake lever and start driving
the vehicle.
When the brake pedal is not
pressed, the shift lock system
operates and the selector lever
cannot be shifted from P to any
other position. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Diesel Only) 093, Starting and
Stopping the Vehicle (Gasoline
Only) 0165 orStarting and
Stopping the Vehicle (Diesel Only)
0 168, Selector Lever 0214, and
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check (Diesel
Only) 0285.
Normal Driving
When you move the selector lever
from P into D (diesel engine) or
D6 (gasoline engine), shifting takes
place in the automatic mode. Check
that D (diesel engine) or
D6 (gasoline engine) is displayed in
the shift indicator.
If the automatic transmission fluid
temperature is too low, the
transmission may not initially make
automatic shift to the 4th, 5th, and
6th gear. This condition is normal
and will be resolved as the fluid
temperature rises.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 211
2. Move the selector lever in theP position, check that the shift
indicator is indicating P, and
slowly ease your right foot off
the brake pedal.
3. Stop the engine and remove the key. When the selector
lever is not placed in the P
position, the shift lock system
operates and the key cannot
be removed.
See Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle (Gasoline Only) 0165 or
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle
(Diesel Only) 0168, and Parking
Brake 0221.
If you cannot move the selector
lever from the P position after
starting the engine, perform the
following necessary checks:
. Check that you are firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
. Check if the area where your
vehicle is parked is not a slope.
. If your vehicle is parked on a
downhill slope, the push
operation of the selector lever
may become heavy to move. In this case, you can operate the
selector lever more smoothly by
pushing the selector lever
towards the front of the vehicle
while pushing the button.
Shift Lock System (Diesel
vehicles only)
When Starting Your Vehicle
The selector lever cannot be
operated from the P position to any
other position without the brake
pedal being pressed. Be sure to
operate the lever while pressing the
brake pedal.
When Parking Your Vehicle
The key cannot be removed unless
the selector lever is securely placed
in the P position (key interlock
system). Be sure to place the
selector lever in the P position when
parking the vehicle.
The shift lock system is a system for
safety to prevent incorrect operation
of the automatic transmission. Use it
correctly and drive safely.
If You Cannot Move the Selector
Lever from the P Position
Caution
When the selector cannot be
operated from the P position to
any other position even after
performing the operation below
repeatedly, the shift lock system
may have a failure. Have the
vehicle inspected at your dealer.
If you cannot move the selector
lever from the P position after
starting the engine, perform the
following checks:
. Check that you are firmly
pressing the brake pedal. When
the brake pedal is not pressed,
the shift lock system operates
and the selector lever cannot be
shifted from P to any other
position.
. Check if the area where your
vehicle is parked is not a slope.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
212 Driving and Operating
.If your vehicle is parked on a
downside slope, the operation of
the selector lever may become
heavy to move. In this case, you
can operate the selector lever
more smoothly by moving the
selector lever towards the front
of the vehicle while pressing the
button.
Releasing the Shift Lock in an
Emergency
If moving of the selector lever from
P to another position is still not
possible even after performing the
instructions given in the steps
above, with the brake pedal fully
pressed and the vehicle parked on a
flat surface, carry out the procedure
described under “If You Cannot
Move the Selector Lever from the P
Position”.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
214 Driving and Operating
Selector Lever
Move the selector lever (2) to make
a shift into each gear position.
Diesel Engine Selector Lever
Gasoline Engine Selector Lever
P (Parking) : Used when the
vehicle is parked or when starting
the engine. The P position is to be
used with the parking brake. The P
and N positions are the two
positions in which the engine can be
started.
R (Reverse) : Used when backing
up the vehicle. Bring the truck to a
complete stop before moving the
selector to the R position.
N (Neutral) : Can be used when
starting the engine, but for safety,
get in the habit of starting the engine in the P position. The N
position is used should it become
necessary to tow your truck.
D (Drive
–Diesel Engine Only) :
The D position is for all normal
forward driving. The system
automatically selects the gear
according to the vehicle speed.
Press the overdrive off switch (3) to
switch to the overdrive ON position
for greater fuel economy.
D6 (Drive D6 Gear –Gasoline
Engine Only) : The D6 position is
for all normal forward driving. The
shifting of 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th - 5th -
6th takes place according to the
vehicle speed and accelerator pedal
pressing rate. It is recommended
that this range be used to improve
fuel economy and reduce vehicle
noise.
D4 (Drive D4 Gear –Gasoline
Engine Only) : The D4 position is
when you feel shifting between 4th
and 5th troublesome while climbing
a long hill. Shifting of 1st - 2nd - 3rd
- 4th takes place according to the
vehicle speed and accelerator pedal
pressing rate.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
246 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
vehicle or its equipment. If you
have any questions about
carrying out some service, have
the work done by a skilled
technician.
To prevent personal injury, keep
hands, tools and clothing clear of
the engine cooling fan when the
engine is running.
The engine, exhaust pipe and
radiator will be hot immediately
after the vehicle is driven. Be
careful around these parts to
prevent burns. Perform all checks
when the engine is cold.
Do not perform work near an
open flame or other heat sources.
Do not let the engine run in poorly
ventilated garages or sheds. This
could cause carbon monoxide
poisoning.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Performing maintenance work on
a truck or chassis can be
dangerous. In trying to do some
jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance work
only if you have the required
know-how and the proper tools
and equipment for the job. If you
have any doubts, contact your
dealer.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
For gasoline vehicles, pull firmly on
the parking brake lever and put the
transmission in neutral. Move the
selector lever to “P”and make sure
the shift indicator displays "P".
For diesel vehicles, pull firmly on the
parking brake lever and move the
selector lever to "P" and make sure
the shift indicator displays "P".
Make sure to turn off the engine and
remove the key from the engine
control switch before performing any
checks. Select a place with a solid and level
surface to perform the checking and
maintenance work. Make sure to
chock the wheels. It would be very
dangerous if the vehicle started
to move.
For gasoline vehicles, when
performing work on the electrical
system, be sure to remove the cable
from the negative terminal on the
battery.
For diesel vehicles, when
performing work on the electrical
system, begin by turning the engine
control switch to the "LOCK"
position, wait at least 3 minutes, and
then disconnect the negative cable
from the negative terminal on
battery. If the negative cable is
disconnected within 3 minutes, the
engine control module may
malfunction.
For gasoline vehicles, when working
on the fuel line or fuel pump,
remove the fuel tank filler cap. The
fuel system is under pressure and
the fuel will overspill unless the
pressure is relieved, possibly
leading to combustion or a fire.