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
208 Driving and Operating
To Accelerate
To accelerate when the accelerator
pedal is pressed further, kickdown
operates and the speed increases.
The transmission will downshift at
speeds below 88 km/h (55 MPH) for
diesel vehicles, and below
112 km/h (70 MPH) for gasoline
vehicles, to provide greater
acceleration.
Kickdown
If you press the accelerator pedal
fully while driving, in accordance
with the current speed the gear
automatically shifts down and the
engine speed rises, enabling
sufficient acceleration. This is called
kickdown.
You can easily accelerate to the
required speed when overtaking
other vehicles or when joining traffic
on a highway. In order to maintain
speed when driving on an uphill
road, as you gradually press the
accelerator pedal the engine may
automatically shift down in
accordance to the current speed(shifts to a lower speed gear),
increasing the engine speed and
increasing vehicle speed.
Driving Uphill or Downhill
Uphill driving:
With the selector lever in D (diesel
engine) or D6/D4 (gasoline engine),
if you press down on the accelerator
pedal, kickdown (change to a low
speed gear) may operate causing
the engine revolutions to suddenly
increase (increasing the speed).
Driving for a prolonged duration on
an uphill road with the selector lever
in D (diesel engine) or D6/
D4 (gasoline engine) may cause the
automatic transmission fluid to
overheat.
For vehicles with a diesel engine,
drive with the overdrive off switch
ON to keep the engine revolutions
constant to enable smoother driving
with fewer changes in engine
revolutions.
For vehicles with a gasoline engine,
drive with the selector lever in the
D4 position to keep the engine
revolutions constant to enable
smoother driving with fewer
changes in engine revolutions.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 209
Driving conditionsSelector lever position
Normal uphill road Diesel engine
–D (overdrive off
switch ON)
Gasoline engine –D4
Steep uphill, steep slope, mountain
road with many sharp curves 2 or 1
Long uphill road 2
Downhill driving:
Do not overuse the foot brake. This
will cause the brakes to overheat,
reducing their effectiveness. On
long downward slopes or sharp
downhill sections of road, use the
engine brake together with the foot
brakes to control the speed.
On vehicles with a diesel engine,
when the selector lever is in the D
position, you can drive with the
overdrive off switch ON to allow a
gentle engine brake to be applied.
On vehicles with a 3.0L diesel
engine, push the overdrive off
switch to the ON position at speeds below 135 km/h (84 MPH) to
increase engine braking action
when traveling downgrade.
On vehicles with a 5.2L diesel
engine, push the overdrive off
switch to the ON position at speeds
below 101 km/h (63 MPH) to
increase engine braking action
when traveling downgrade.
On vehicles with a gasoline engine,
with the selector lever in the D4
position at speeds below
121 km/h (75 MPH) to increase
engine braking action when
traveling downgrade.
You can increase engine braking by
driving with the selector lever in the
2 position.To apply a stronger engine brake on
sharp downhill sections, shift the
selector lever to the 1 position when
required.
See
Control of a Vehicle 0133.
Driving at Low Speeds for
Sustained Periods
On vehicles with a 3.0L diesel
engine, any low speed applications
such as sweeper, road marking
machinery, trash collectors, highway
striping or moving, etc. require the
following treatment to prevent the
automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
from overheating:
Select 1 position during low speed
operation under 28 km/h (17 MPH).
Select 2 position during low speed
operation under 53 km/h (33 MPH).
On vehicles with a 5.2L diesel
engine, any low speed applications
such as sweeper, road marking
machinery, trash collectors, highway
striping or moving, etc. require the
following treatment to prevent the
automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
from overheating:
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
210 Driving and Operating
Select 1 position during low speed
operation under 18 km/h (11 MPH).
Select 2 position during low speed
operation under 36 km/h (22 MPH).
On vehicles with a gasoline engine,
any low speed applications such as
sweeper, road marking machinery,
trash collectors, highway striping or
moving, etc. require the following
treatment to prevent the automatic
transmission fluid (ATF) from
overheating:
Select 1 position during low speed
operation under 36 km/h (22 MPH).
Select 2 position during low speed
operation under 61 km/h (38 MPH).
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid
Temperature Warning Light 088.
To Stop Your Vehicle 1. To temporarily stop the vehicle, press the brake pedal firmly
while the selector lever is in
D (diesel engine) or D6/
D4 (gasoline engine). 2. Use the parking brake as
required. Press the brake pedal
firmly, and firmly apply the
parking brake.
If the vehicle is stationary for a
long time, move the selector
lever into the N or P position.
If the selector lever is kept in
D (diesel engine) or D6/
D4 (gasoline engine), the
temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid increases
due to heat from the torque
converter.
To ensure reliable brake application,
be sure to use your right foot to
press the brake pedal.
When leaving the driver's seat,
follow the When Parking Your
Vehicle procedure.
To Start After Stopping
To start again after stopping your
vehicle, visually check that the
selector lever is in D (diesel engine)
or D6/D4 (gasoline engine), and
gradually press the accelerator
pedal to pull away. When Parking Your Vehicle
{Warning
Do not leave your vehicle while
the engine is still running. Do not
park with the selector lever in a
position other than P or N the
vehicle may begin moving by
itself due to creeping. You may
accidentally press the accelerator
pedal when getting into the
vehicle causing it to start moving
suddenly.
When parking the vehicle, always
apply the parking brake and move
the selector lever to the P
position.
When parking on a slope, move
the selector lever in the P position
and block the wheels with chocks.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
1. Keep pressing the brake pedal firmly with your right foot, then
apply the parking brake.
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
Driving and Operating 213
Actions that Can Lead to a Breakdown with an Automatic Transmission
Actions that can lead to a breakdownBreakdown symptoms
Stopping the vehicle on an uphill road with the selector lever in a position
other than N or P, the accelerator pedal pressed, and the brakes not
applied. The transmission fluid overheats.
Pressing the accelerator pedal and brake pedal at the same time while the
vehicle is in a gear other than N or P.
Placing the selector lever into any gear with the accelerator pedal pressed
and the engine speed high. The transmission gears are
overloaded.
Placing the selector lever into P before the vehicle has completely stopped. The parking mechanism will be
damaged.
Turning off the engine control switch while driving. The transmission is not properly
lubricated.
Driving with the selector lever in the N position on a long downward slope
(this is dangerous due to the lack of engine brake).
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 215
2 (Second) :May be used when
driving on downhill roads or when
the engine brake is required. Select
the 2 position at speeds below
40 km/h (25 MPH) when traveling
down a moderate grade. Return the
selector to the D position for normal
driving.
1 (Low) : Used on steep downhill
roads or when strong engine
braking is required. Return the
selector to the D position for normal
driving.
{Warning
When pulling away, always
visually check the position of the
selector lever for safety.
Only push the button for gear
selection when necessary.
Pushing the button unnecessarily
may result in unintended gear
selection.
Never move the selector to the P
position when the truck is in
motion.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not run 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 repeatedly shifting between
forward and reverse gears for a
multiple-point turn, firmly press the
brake pedal and confirm that the
vehicle is completely stopped before
operating the selector lever.
For safety reasons, the shift lock
system operates to prevent shifting
of the selector lever to any position
other than P unless the brake pedal
is pressed and the starter switch is
in the ON position. When pulling
away, be sure to keep the brake
pedal pressed as you operate the
selector lever. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Diesel
Only) 093, Overdrive Off Light
(Diesel Only) 089, Automatic
Transmission 0204, and
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check
(Diesel Only) 0285.
Overdrive Off
Overdrive Off Switch
Diesel vehicles have two overdrive
gears (5th and 6th). These two high
speed gears provide increased road
speed, low running noise and
outstanding fuel efficiency.
Take advantage of overdrive
whenever possible.
.
Use the overdrive during normal
driving. When driving down long
downhill roads that require the
engine brake, or when driving on
mountain roads or through city
centers, release the overdrive.
Doing so will reduce the number
of gear changes making the ride
smoother.
. For vehicles with a 3.0L diesel
engine, if your vehicle is
traveling at a speed exceeding
135 km/h (84 MPH), it is not
possible to downshift from 6th
gear to 5th gear.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 217
Overdrive Off Indicator Light
Indicator lightFunction Usage conditions
Goes Off. 6-Speed (4-speed + overdrive) automatic
change (Overdrive ON). Use under normal driving conditions.
Comes On. 4-speed automatic change, but no change to
overdrive (overdrive OFF). Used when a light engine brake is required.
Doing so will reduce the number of gear
changes making the ride smoother on roads
that have many hills.
. During cold weather, the
transmission may not shift to the
5th or 6th gear (overdrive) until
the engine warms up.
. Even if the engine is stopped
with the overdrive OFF, the
overdrive will be ON the next
time the engine is started.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
Wheels may be locked and slip
during sudden braking or braking on
a slippery road surface such as a
snowy road. ABS is a device to
prevent the wheels from locking by
detecting a slippery condition during
braking and securing the directional
stability and handling stability of the
vehicle. ABS only assists in limited
road conditions and will not prevent
an accident if you exceed safe
driving speeds for road conditions.
Always drive safely.
{Warning
The braking distance on slippery
road surfaces is longer than that
on a normal dry paved road even
with an ABS-equipped vehicle. In
addition the braking distance can
be slightly longer in deep snow
and on a gravel road when ABS
is activated. Therefore, always
keep in mind the road condition
and tire condition (type of tires
and worn condition), observe safe
driving habits and drive the
vehicle while keeping a proper
distance between vehicles.
(Continued)