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 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
244 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 245
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 245
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Cab Tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Oil (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Oil (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . 257
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 263
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 269
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Rear Axle (Gear Oil Viscosity
Chart) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Rear Axle (Oil Level Check) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 284
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check
(Diesel Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 286
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Roofmarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Sidemarker Lamps (Including Turn Signal and Cornering
Lamps) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 297
Interior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
260 Vehicle Care
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
{Warning
Overfilling of the automatic
transmission can cause the fluid
to be "PURGED" out of the
breather hose onto the hot engine
parts and can cause a fire.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Both quality and quantity of fluid are
important factors that have a
significant influence on the
performance and durability of the
automatic transmission. Be sure to use only the dealer recommended
fluid for replenishment, and observe
the specified fluid level.
Too much or too little transmission
oil could damage your transmission.
Too much could cause your
transmission to overheat and fluid to
spill out from the breather hose. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.
When cleaning around the dipstick
and guide tube, make sure that you
thoroughly wipe away all of the dirt
and dust etc. Failure to do so may
cause a fault in the transmission.
Do not let coolants (ethylene glycol
type), water based substances,
or other fluids etc., mix with the
fluid. Otherwise, degraded
performance and faulty operation of
the system will result.
Checking the Automatic
Transmission Oil level
This operation could be difficult and
you may choose to have this done
at your dealer.
If you choose to do it yourself, then
be sure to follow all the instructions
below or you could get a false
reading on the dipstick.
Position of the Dipstick
For the single cab diesel vehicle,
the dipstick is located to the left side
of the automatic transmission at the
rear of the engine. Tilt the cab up to
inspect it.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Vehicle Care 261
For the crew cab diesel vehicle, the
dipstick is located beneath the
rear-of-engine inspection panel.
After unlatching the A/T fluid
inspection cover, the dipstick will be
visible.For the single cab gasoline vehicle,
the dipstick is located to the right
side of the automatic transmission
at the rear of the engine. Tilt the cab
up to inspect it.
For the crew cab gasoline vehicle,
the dipstick is located beneath the
rear-of-engine inspection panel.
After unlatching the A/T fluid
inspection cover, the dipstick will be
visible.
Inspection
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transmission fluid if
you have been driving at high speed
for a long period of time, in city/
heavy traffic or while pulling a trailer.1. Start the engine, and drive the vehicle for approximately
10 minutes to warm up the
engine. During 10 minutes, the
automatic transmission fluid
should reach a temperature of
approximately 70 - 80 °C
(158 - 176 °F). During the
winter when temperatures are
low, adjust the amount of
driving time according to the
actual conditions.
2. Park the vehicle on level ground, and firmly apply the
parking brake.