Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
174 Lighting
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use thehigh-beam headlamps to signal adriver in front of you that you wantto pass. It works even if theheadlamps are in the automaticposition.
To u s e i t , p u l l t h e t u r n s i g n a l l e v e rtoward you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in theautomatic position or on low beam,the high-beam headlamps will turnon. Depending on the type ofheadlamp, they will either turn offafter a short duration or stay on aslong as you hold the lever towardyou. The high-beam indicator on theinstrument cluster will come on.Release the lever to return tonormal operation.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others tosee the front of the vehicle duringthe day. Fully functional DRL arerequired on all vehicles first sold inCanada.
The DRL system comes on whenthe following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control isin AUTO.
.The transmission is not inP(Park).
.The light sensor determines it isdaytime.
When the DRL system is on, onlythe DRL are on. The taillamps,sidemarker lamps, instrument panellights, and other lamps will notbe on.
When it begins to get dark, theautomatic headlamp systemswitches from DRL to theheadlamps.
To t u r n o f f t h e D R L , t u r n t h e e x t e r i o rlamp control to the off position andthen release. For vehicles first soldin Canada, off will only work whenthe vehicle is in P (Park).
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp control isset to AUTO and it is dark enoughoutside, the headlamps come onautomatically.
There is a light sensor on top of theinstrument panel. Do not cover thesensor, otherwise the headlampswill come on when they are notneeded.
The system may also turn on theheadlamps when driving through aparking garage or tunnel.
If the vehicle is started in a darkgarage, the automatic headlampsystem comes on immediately. If itis light outside when the vehicle
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
246 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 247Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 248Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 250Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 255Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 256Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 258Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 259Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 267Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 269Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 272Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 275Parking (ManualTransmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275Parking over ThingsThat Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275Active Fuel Management®.... 275
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 277Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280To w / H a u l M o d e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 2
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 283
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 294
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 297Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 301Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 302Assistance Systems forDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304Forward AutomaticBraking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306Lane Departure Warning(LDW) (2500/3500Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 312
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 253
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause an accident.
There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be
seriously injured or killed. As you
near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward orbackward with either thetransmission or transfer case inN(Neutral).Thebrakescouldoverheat and you could losecontrol.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two⇣speed
automatic transfer case, shifting
the transfer case to N (Neutral)
can cause your vehicle to roll
even if the transmission is in
P(Park).Thisisbecausethe
N(Neutral)positiononthe
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
transfer case overrides the
transmission. You or someone
else could be injured. If leaving
the vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift the transmission to
P(Park).Shiftthetransfercaseto
any position but N (Neutral).
.When driving down a hill, keepthe vehicle headed straightdown. Use a low gear becausethe engine will work with thebrakes to slow the vehicle andhelp keep the vehicle undercontrol.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down
ahillcancauseyourbrakesto
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill:
1. Apply the brakes to stop thevehicle, and then apply theparking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and thenrestart the engine.
.If driving uphill when thevehicle stalls, shift toR(Reverse),releasetheparking brake, and backstraight down.
.Never try to turn the vehiclearound. If the hill is steepenough to stall the vehicle,it is steep enough to causeit to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up thehill, back straight downthe hill.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
256 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Watercan build up under the vehicle'stires so they actually ride on thewater. This can happen if the road iswet enough and you are going fastenough. When the vehicle ishydroplaning, it has little or nocontact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule abouthydroplaning. The best advice is toslow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wetweather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wipingequipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluidreservoir filled.
.Have good tires with propertread depth. SeeTires0397.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or throughmountains is different than drivingon flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and ingood shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,tires, cooling system, andtransmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when goingdown steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 259
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left andright to clear the area around thefront wheels. For four-wheel-drivevehicles, shift into Four-Wheel DriveHigh. Turn the TCS off. Shift backand forth between R (Reverse) andaforwardgear,spinningthewheelsas little as possible. To preventtransmission wear, wait until thewheels stop spinning before shiftinggears. Slowly spinning the wheels inthe forward and reverse directionscauses a rocking motion that couldfree the vehicle. If that does not getthe vehicle out after a few tries, itmight need to be towed out. SeeTo w i n g t h e V e h i c l e0436.Recoveryhooks can be used, if the vehiclehas them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
There are recovery hooks at thefront of the vehicle. Use them if thevehicle is stuck off-road and needsto be pulled some place to continuedriving.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
268 Driving and Operating
The switch used to adjust thepedals is on the center stack, belowthe climate controls.
Lift the switch up to move thepedals closer to your body. Pressthe switch down to move thepedals away.
Before you start driving, fully pressthe brake pedal to confirm theadjustment is right for you.
The vehicle may have a memoryfunction, which lets pedal settingsbe saved and recalled. SeeMemorySeats061.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four differentpositions.
To s h i f t o u t o f P ( P a r k ) , t h e i g n i t i o nmust be in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brakepedal must be applied.
0(STOPPINGTHEENGINE/LOCK/OFF) :When the vehicle is stopped,turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off. RetainedAccessory Power (RAP) will remainactive. SeeRetained AccessoryPower (RAP)0271.
This position locks the ignition andsteering wheel. It also locks thetransmission on automatictransmission vehicles. The key canbe removed in LOCK/OFF.
The steering can bind with thewheels turned off center. If thishappens, move the steering wheelfrom right to left while turning thekey to ACC/ACCESSORY. If thisdoes not work, then the vehicleneeds service.
Do not turn the engine off when thevehicle is moving. This will cause aloss of power assist in the brakeand steering systems and disablethe airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in anemergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump thebrakes repeatedly. This maydeplete power assist, requiringincreased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral).This can be done while thevehicle is moving. After shiftingto N (Neutral), continue to
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 269
firmly apply the brakes andsteer the vehicle to a safelocation.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shiftto P (Park) with an automatictransmission, or Neutral with amanual transmission. Turn theignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake0293.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,and must be shut off while driving,turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
On vehicles with an automatictransmission, the shift lever must bein P (Park) to turn the ignition switchto LOCK/OFF.
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.
1(ACC/ACCESSORY):Thisposition lets things like the radioand the windshield wipers operatewhile the engine is off. It alsounlocks the steering wheel. Use thisposition if the vehicle must bepushed or towed.
2(ON/RUN):This position can beused to operate the electricalaccessories and to display someinstrument cluster warning andindicator lights. This position canalso be used for service anddiagnostics, and to verify the properoperation of the malfunctionindicator lamp as may be requiredfor emission inspection purposes.The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. Thetransmission is also unlocked in thisposition on automatic transmissionvehicles.
If the key is left in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN positionwith the engine off, the battery couldbe drained. The vehicle may notstart if the battery is allowed to drainfor an extended period of time.
3(START):This is the position thatstarts the engine. When the enginestarts, release the key. The ignitionswitch returns to ON/RUN fordriving.
Awarningtonewillsoundwhenthedriver door is opened, the ignition isin ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF, and the key is in the ignition.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,see the Duramax dieselsupplement.
For an eAssist vehicle, see theSilverado/Sierra eAssistsupplement.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
270 Driving and Operating
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical
Equipment0345.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the power steering
system and there may be loss of
power steering assist.
Place the transmission in theproper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) orN(Neutral). To restart the enginewhen the vehicle is already moving,use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in Neutraland the parking brake engaged.Hold the clutch pedal down to thefloor and start the engine.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off theaccelerator pedal, turn theignition key to START. Whenthe engine starts, let go of thekey. The idle speed will godown as the engine gets warm.Do not race the engineimmediately after starting it.
Operate the engine andtransmission gently to allow theoil to warm up and lubricate allmoving parts.
When the low fuel warning lightis on and the FUEL LEVELLOW message is displayed inthe Driver Information Center(DIC), hold the ignition switchin the START position tocontinue engine cranking.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not startafter five to 10 seconds,especially in very cold weather(below✓18 °C or 0 °F), it couldbe flooded with too much