2017 CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
168 Driving and Operating
flammable material, such as
grass, waste paper, oil, or old
tires near the exhaust pipe.
Cold Weather Starting
If you plan ahead for cold weather,
starting and driving your vehicle
should be no problem.
Oil gets thicker as it gets colder,
which slows down the engine
cranking speed.
To be sure the engine can turn fast
enough to start, use SAE 0W-30
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.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the gasoline 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.
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.
If the Vehicle Has Not Been Used
for a Long Period
If the vehicle is to be placed in
storage for a prolonged period of
time, certain precautions must be
taken to prevent deterioration. See
your authorized dealer for more
detailed information.
. Before using a vehicle that has
not been driven for a long
period, check the engine and
transmission for oil leakage, and make sure the oil is at the
required levels. If there is
insufficient oil, it will not
adequately reach and lubricate
components, and a breakdown
will result.
. Start the engine and allow it to
idle for at least 5 minutes. Check
for abnormal noises.
. For instructions on warming up
the engine, refer to “Starting the
Engine” previously in this
section.
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle (Diesel Only)
Check around the Vehicle before
Starting the Engine
Proper care and operation will not
only extend the service life of your
vehicle but also improve fuel
economy.
Before pulling away, perform a
thorough safety check, making sure
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle. Take off the
chocks after confirming that the
parking brake is securely applied.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 169
Sit behind the wheel, adjust the seat
position, and buckle up the seat
belt. The passengers are also
required to buckle up the seat belts.
Adjust the positions of the steering
wheel and mirrors. Lock the doors.
Turn the power of the dome light or
accessories OFF before starting the
engine. SeeSeat Position 044,
Seat Belts 049, Steering Wheel
Adjustment 072, and Mirrors039.
Keep the Floor Around the
Driver's Seat Clean and Tidy
{Warning
It is extremely dangerous to have
empty cans, empty bottles or
other items rolling around on the
floor because they could get
trapped under the brake pedal
and prevent brake application.
For proper pedal operation, it is
also essential to lay floor mats
properly. Incorrectly installed floor
mats would hinder free movement
of the pedals. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not use the dashboard pocket
or the top of the dashboard as a
place to put items that could roll,
which could interfere with your
driving. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Choose Your Footwear Suitable
for Driving
{Warning
Choose footwear that ensures
proper operation of pedals when
driving the vehicle. Use of
footwear unsuitable for driving
may cause an accident.
Starting the Engine
Do not keep the engine control
switch in the START position for
more than about 10 seconds.
Operating the starter for too long
might cause starter and battery
failure or may result in overheating. When the engine does not start,
wait for 20 to 30 seconds and then
turn the engine control switch again.
Before starting the engine sit in the
driver seat, check that the parking
brake is firmly engaged, the selector
lever is in the P or N (P is preferred)
position and the shift indicator also
shows P or N, and firmly press the
brake pedal to start the engine.
When stopped on a slope, start the
engine with the selector lever in the
P position. See
Ignition Positions
0 163.
1. Make sure that the selector lever is in the P or N position
and firmly press the brake
pedal.
2. When the engine control switchis turned to the ON position,
the wait-to-start light comes on
and it goes out in about

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
170 Driving and Operating
1 second when the engine is
warm, to about 10 seconds
when the engine is cold.
3. After confirming that the wait-to-start light has gone out,
turn the engine control switch
to the START position to start
the engine. Release the engine
control switch as soon as the
engine starts.
4. Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a
time. If the engine does not
start, wait 20 to 30 seconds
with the engine control switch
in the LOCK or ACC position
before trying to start again.
It is normal for the vacuum warning
buzzer to sound for a few seconds
after the engine has started.
After the engine has started, check
to be sure the selector lever is still
in the P position.
This engine has an automatic
warm-up system that increases
engine idle speed and applies the
exhaust brake. Allow sufficient time
to let the engine circulate lubricant oil before driving. This usually
requires 30 seconds to 2 minutes
depending on ambient conditions.
See
Brake System Warning Light
(Parking Brake Light) 084.
The turbocharged engine should be
started in a way which ensures the
bearings supporting the rotating
parts of the turbocharger are
sufficiently lubricated. Do not race a
cold engine.
At low ambient temperatures, a cold
engine may emit more smoke than
usual.
Do not drive the truck until the
engine has had sufficient time to
circulate the lubricant oil. This
usually requires 30 seconds to
2 minutes depending on ambient
conditions. This will help reduce
white start-up smoke.
Preheating : Diesel engines are
compression ignited, which makes
them difficult to start when they are
cold because the compression
alone cannot create a temperature
high enough for fuel to ignite. Preheating means warming the
compressed air inside the
combustion chambers to facilitate
engine starting. Be sure to start the
engine after the wait-to-start light
has gone out.
Start :
Do not press the accelerator
pedal at the engine start. The
accelerator opening degree at the
engine start is electronically
controlled.
Warm-up : Do not race the engine
to speed warm-up.
Cold Weather Starting
If you plan ahead for cold weather,
starting and driving your vehicle
should be no problem. The following
tips will help ensure good starting in
cold weather.
Oil gets thicker as it gets colder,
which slows down the engine
cranking speed. For diesel vehicles,
the diesel engine functions by the
heat of compression (and glow
plugs when cold), rather than
through the use of spark plugs as in

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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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
172 Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Has Not Been Used
for a Long Period
If a diesel vehicle has been
standing for an extended period of
time, the turbocharger bearings
should be pre-lubricated prior to
starting. See your authorized dealer
for more detailed information.
Before using a vehicle that has not
been driven for a long period, check
the engine and transmission for oil
leakage, and make sure the oil is at
the required levels. If there is
insufficient oil, it will not adequately
reach and lubricate components,
and a breakdown will result.
Start the engine and allow it to idle
for at least five minutes. Check for
abnormal noises.
For instructions on warming up the
engine, refer to“Starting the Engine”
previously in this section.
For diesel vehicles, if 1 year has
passed since the diesel exhaust
fluid (DEF) in the DEF tank was
added, the DEF in the tank should
be replaced. Be careful not to inhale
the ammonia odor when replacing the DEF. Also, please contact your
nearest dealer about the
replacement work.
Operating Temperature
Recommendations for Warming
Up the Engine
The engine is sufficiently warmed
up when the needle of the engine
coolant temperature gauge starts
to move.
Do not race the engine or quickly
accelerate before the engine has
sufficiently warmed up. Oil would
not have adequately reached and
lubricated components, and a
breakdown may result.
The exhaust pipe becomes
extremely hot while the engine is
idling. Before warming up the
engine, make sure there is no
flammable material, such as grass,
waste paper, oil, or old tires near the
exhaust pipe.
Engine Warm-up System
During cold ambient conditions, the
automatic engine warm-up system
operates to reduce engine warm-up
time during idling.
Automatic Engine Warm-up :
When the engine is idling with the
engine coolant temperature below
62 °C (144 °F), the engine warm-up
system automatically closes the
exhaust brake and increases engine
idle speed so that the engine is
warmed more quickly. Warm-up is
cancelled when the accelerator
pedal is pressed, and resumed
when the pedal is released.
Warm-up is automatically cancelled
entirely after the engine coolant
temperature rises above 65 °C
(149 °F).
Winter Cover
.
Do not cover the front of the
radiator with newspapers,
cardboard or any other
flammable material to raise the
engine coolant temperature.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 173
.If you allow the engine to warm
up but the engine coolant
temperature does not rise, have
the nearest dealer inspect the
thermostat.
Radiator Grille Covers
{Warning
Radiator shutters, winter fronts,
or grille covers are not to be used
and may cause the engine's
radiator cooling fan to fatigue
from the alternate unloading and
loading of the blades as they
pass by the masked area
followed by the unmasked area.
After the fan has been fatigued, it
may suddenly break apart while
rotating, possibly causing
personal injury to anyone
standing nearby, and equipment
damage. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Engine Heater
Engine Block and Oil Pan Heater
If the vehicle is parked in a garage,
the block and pan heaters should
not be needed until the garage
temperature drops below −23°C
(−10°F) regardless of outside
temperature.
The engine block and oil pan
heaters are designed to warm the
block and oil pan areas that will let
the engine run faster. To use the
heaters:
1. On single cab vehicles, tilt the cab.
2. Unwrap the electrical cord and remove the protective cap.
3. Plug the cord into any three-prong 110 volt outlet
(normal household current).
It may require several hours to
sufficiently heat the engine.
Outside temperature, oil
viscosity, etc., will affect how
long the block and oil pan
heater should remain plugged
in. Contact your dealer for the
conditions in your area. 4. After using the heater(s), be
sure to restore the cord
properly, to help keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If the cord is too short, use a heavy
duty, three-prong extension cord. Do
not use an extension cord such as
you would use for a lamp, because
the cord may overheat.
The engine should go through a
warm-up period to warm up the
engine oil before placing engine
under load. This will ensure proper
lubrication of the engine. See Cab
Tilting 0247.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
174 Driving and Operating
Engine Alarm and
Automatic Shutdown
(Diesel Only)
If the system senses any of the
following conditions: high engine
temperature, low engine oil pressure
or low engine coolant, the
corresponding warning light and
engine alarm (shutdown) warning
light will come on. If the engine
alarm (shutdown) warning light
comes on, you will also hear a tone
alarm.
If your vehicle has the engine
shutdown feature, your engine will
shut down in 30 seconds.Pull safely off the road and shut off
the engine. Do not start it until the
cause of the problem is known, and
the problem is fixed. However, if the
engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the
engine and get another 30 seconds
of operation. Do this only if you
have to, since there is a problem
that can harm the engine if it is not
fixed. See
Engine Shutdown
Warning Light 091.
Idle Shutdown
On vehicles with a diesel engine,
Idle Stop is a dealer programmable
function which will automatically turn
off the engine, at idle, when specific
programmed conditions are met.
See your dealer for details. When
the Idle Stop light comes on, it alerts
you that programmed conditions
have been met and the engine is
about to shut down. This light stays
on after the engine has stopped.
This indicator light will come on
when the engine control switch is
turned to the ON position and then
should go out after approximately
3 seconds. If the idling stop function does not
initiate, a transmission related
problem may have occurred. Please
contact your dealer. (There is a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that
inhibits the idling stop function when
the Check Trans warning light is not
illuminated).
High Idle System
Use high idle mode to increase
engine idle speed to 1,200 r/min
when the vehicle is stationary.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 175
Activating High Idle Mode
Follow the below procedure to
activate the high idle mode:1. Set the parking brake.
2. Set the selector lever in P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
3. Do not press the brake pedal. 4. Press the cruise control main
switch to set it to ON. At this
time, the operation indicating
light will turn to green.
5. Turn and hold the cruise control set switch in the SET
position. After approximately
3 seconds the cruise control
set indicator light will begin to
flash slowly and the engine idle
will increase to 1,200 r/min.
Canceling High Idle Mode
Any of the following actions will
cancel high idle mode.
. The cruise control main switch is
set to OFF.
. The brake pedal is pressed.
. The parking brake is released.
. The selector lever is moved from
P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
. The accelerator pedal is
pressed, accelerating the engine
beyond the engine speed
threshold.
The cruise set indicator light will
stop flashing and the engine speed
will return to normal.
Engine Checks Before
Operating
Checks Before Operating
Allow the engine to warm up before
placing the engine under heavy load
driving. While the engine is warming
up under light load, the following
checks should be made:
1. Observe the red engine oil pressure warning light. The
light should go out when the
engine is running. If it stays on,
shut the engine off and find the
cause.
2. Look at the engine coolant temperature gauge. If the
gauge reaches the H (HOT)
area, stop the engine and find
the cause of the overheating.
3. Check that the battery warning light has gone out. The light
should go off and stay off at
normal idle speeds. If the light
does not go out or comes on
during normal operation, have
the charging system checked.