Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Climate Controls 245
Service
All vehicles have a label underhoodthat identifies the refrigerant used inthe vehicle. The refrigerant systemshould only be serviced by trainedand certified technicians. The airconditioning evaporator shouldnever be repaired or replaced byone from a salvage vehicle.It should only be replaced by a newevaporator to ensure proper andsafe operation.
During service, all refrigerantsshould be reclaimed with properequipment. Venting refrigerantsdirectly to the atmosphere is harmfulto the environment and may alsocreate unsafe conditions based oninhalation, combustion, frostbite,or other health-based concerns.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 251
The vehicle may straighten out.Be ready for a second skid if itoccurs.
.Slow down and adjust yourdriving according to weatherconditions. Stopping distancecan be longer and vehiclecontrol can be affected whentraction is reduced by water,snow, ice, gravel, or othermaterial on the road. Learn torecognize warning clues—suchas enough water, ice, or packedsnow on the road to make amirrored surface—and slowdown when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,acceleration, or braking,including reducing vehicle speedby shifting to a lower gear. Anysudden changes could causethe tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes helpavoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can beused for off-road driving. Vehicleswithout four-wheel drive and
vehicles not equipped with AllTe r r a i n ( AT ) o r O n - O f f R o a d ( O O R )tires must not be driven off-roadexcept on a level, solid surface. Forcontact information about theoriginal equipment tires, see thewarranty manual.
One of the best ways for successfuloff-road driving is to control thespeed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenanceand service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,and check inflation pressure inall tires, including the spare,if equipped.
.Read all the information aboutfour-wheel-drive vehicles in thismanual.
.Remove any underbody airdeflector, if equipped. Re-attachthe air deflector after off-roaddriving.
.SeeHill Descent Control(HDC)0297
.Know the local laws that apply tooff-road driving.
To g a i n m o r e g r o u n d c l e a r a n c e i fneeded, it may be necessary toremove the front fascia lower airdam. However, driving without theair dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 255
Traction is reduced on hard packedsnow and ice and it is easy to losecontrol. Reduce vehicle speed whendriving on hard packed snowand ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
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.
If the standing water is not too deep,drive slowly through it. At fasterspeeds, water splashes and thevehicle can stall. When goingthrough water, the brakes get wetand it may take longer to stop. See“Driving on Wet Roads”later in thissection.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris thathas collected on the underbody orchassis, or under the hood. Theseaccumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,have the brake linings cleaned andchecked. These substances cancause glazing and uneven braking.Check the body structure, steering,suspension, wheels, tires, andexhaust system for damage andcheck the fuel lines and coolingsystem for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance serviceis required. See theMaintenanceSchedule0452.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reducevehicle traction and affect yourability to stop and accelerate.Always drive slower in these typesof driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles anddeep-standing or flowing water.
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
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
Driving and Operating 275
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with anelectronic shift lock release system.The shift lock release isdesigned to:
.Prevent ignition key removalunless the shift lever is inP(Park).
.Prevent movement of the shiftlever out of P (Park), unless theignition is in ON/RUN and theregular brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is alwaysfunctional except in the case of anuncharged or low voltage (less than9volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an unchargedbattery or a battery with low voltage,try charging or jump starting thebattery. SeeJump Starting - NorthAmerica0432.
To s h i f t o u t o f P ( P a r k ) :
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to thedesired position.
If you still are unable to shift out ofP(Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shiftlever.
2. While holding down the brakepedal, press the shift lever allthe way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to thedesired position.
If you are still having a problemshifting, then have the vehicleserviced soon.
This vehicle may have the SafetyBelt Assurance System, which mayprevent the vehicle from shifting outof P (Park). SeeSafety BeltMessages0155.
Parking (Manual
Transmission)
If the vehicle has a manualtransmission, before you get out ofthe vehicle, move the shift lever intoR(Reverse), and firmly apply theparking brake. Once the shift leverhas been placed into R (Reverse)with the clutch pedal pressed in,
turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF,remove the key and release theclutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if thevehicle is pulling a trailer, seeDriving Characteristics and TowingTips0315.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Active Fuel Management®
Vehicles with a V8 or V6 gasolineengine may have Active FuelManagement. This system allowsthe engine to operate on either all ofits cylinders, or in V4 mode,depending on the driving conditions.
Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
306 Driving and Operating
or Off. The first button press showsthe current setting on the DIC.Additional button presses willchange this setting. The chosensetting will remain until it is changedand will affect the timing of both theCollision Alert and the TailgatingAlert features. The timing of bothalerts will vary based on vehiclespeed. The faster the vehicle speed,the farther away the alert will occur.Consider traffic and weatherconditions when selecting the alerttiming. The range of selectable alerttiming may not be appropriate for alldrivers and driving conditions.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessaryalerts for turning vehicles, vehiclesin other lanes, objects that are notvehicles, or shadows. These alertsare normal operation and thevehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem tooperate properly, cleaning theoutside of the windshield in front ofthe rearview mirror, and cleaning the
front of the vehicle where radarsensors are located, may correctthe issue.
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB)
If the vehicle has Forward CollisionAlert (FCA), it also has FAB, whichincludes Intelligent BrakeAssist (IBA). When the systemdetects a vehicle ahead in your paththat is traveling in the samedirection that you may be about tocrash into, it can provide a boost tobraking or automatically brake thevehicle. This can help avoid orlessen the severity of crashes whendriving in a forward gear. Dependingon the situation, the vehicle mayautomatically brake moderately orhard. This forward automaticbraking can only occur if a vehicle isdetected. This is shown by the FCAvehicle ahead indicator being lit.SeeForward Collision Alert (FCA)System0304.
The system works when driving in aforward gear between 8 km/h(5 mph) and 80 km/h (37 mph).It can detect vehicles up toapproximately 60 m (197 ft).
{Warning
FA B i s a n e m e r g e n c y c r a s h
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on FAB to brake the
vehicle. FAB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
FA B m a y n o t :
.Detect a vehicle ahead onwinding or hilly roads.
.Detect all vehicles,especially vehicles with atrailer, tractors, muddyvehicles, etc.
.Detect a vehicle whenweather limits visibility, suchas in fog, rain, or snow.
(Continued)