2018 CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD automatic transmission

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 153
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.
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.
If one 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).

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 155
Engine Alarm and
Automatic Shutdown
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 080.
Idle Shutdown
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 Service Transmission 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.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 185
When the exhaust system warning
light comes on, promptly have the
vehicle inspected and serviced at a
dealer.
When a malfunction is detected in
the SCR system, the warning and
the indicator lights shown in the
table come on. SeeVehicle
Messages 086, Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 074, and Diesel Exhaust
Fluid (DEF) Warning Light 080.
When the Diesel Exhaust Fluid
(DEF) Tank is Empty
If the DEF tank is empty and
warning and indicator lights are on,
you must follow below procedure to
cancel the vehicle restriction: 1. Turn the engine control switch to the LOCK or ACC position,
and add DEF.
2. After adding DEF, turn the engine control switch to ON
position.
3. Wait until buzzer stops, warnings and indicators are
turned off. 4. If the buzzer does not stop,
return the engine control switch
back to the LOCK position and
add more DEF, and then start
over from step 2 above.
5. Restart the engine.
It may take a while until the warning
lights and indicators turn off and the
buzzer stops after turning the
engine control switch to the ON
position.
It is desirable to fill up the tank with
DEF to avoid DEF remaining level
warning indication from reappearing.
When the outside temperature is
low, refer to Adding DEF in Cold
Weather. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 082, Brake System
Warning Light (Parking Brake Light)
0 75, Warning Buzzers 091, and
Winter Driving 0133.Automatic
Transmission
On an automatic transmission
vehicle, the driver does not use a
clutch pedal when pulling away,
changing gears, or stopping. Only
the selector lever, accelerator pedal,
and brake pedal are used.
Practice learning the characteristics
of the automatic transmission
vehicle and how to correctly operate
it. When the vehicle is stationary,
remember to keep the brake pedal
firmly pressed, and if necessary,
move the selector lever in the P or
N position and apply the parking
brake.
Creep : With the engine running
and a gear position other than P or
N selected with the selector lever,
power reaches the wheels even
when the accelerator pedal is not
pressed, causing the vehicle to tend
to move.
Furthermore, the higher the engine
speed, the stronger the creep and
the greater the vehicle's tendency
to move.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
186 Driving and Operating
Starting
Start the engine in either the P or
the N position. The engine should
not start in any other selector
position. If it does, something is
wrong. Have your truck checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
Always apply either the foot brake
or the parking brake before shifting
into any driving position. This will
prevent creeping.
The engine should be running at
idle when shifting from P or N to one
of the driving positions. See
Selector Lever0194.
Caution
Do not apply water from a
high-pressure washer nozzle
directly to the electric connectors.
Failure to observe this precaution
can lead to faulty operation of the
electrical system.
Caution
Never move the selector into the
P position when the vehicle is in
motion. This will damage the
automatic transmission.
Firmly press the brake pedal to
prevent the vehicle from moving
even if it is stopped on a level road,
and move the selector lever into P
and firmly apply the parking brake
as needed.
The engine speed rises and
creeping will be stronger than usual
during the conditions noted below.
Keep the brake pedal firmly
pressed:
. Immediately after engine
start up.
. While the air conditioner is
running.
. During the diesel particulate filter
(DPF) regeneration. How to Use the Automatic
Transmission{Warning
Before starting the engine, move
the selector lever into P or N (P is
preferred), make sure the shift
indicator indicates P or N, pull up
the parking brake lever and firmly
press the brake pedal.
When moving the selector lever to
any position other than P, be sure
to press the brake pedal.
Never leave the driver's seat with
the selector lever placed in D, 2,
1 or R. The vehicle may start
moving. When leaving the driver's
seat, be sure to move the selector
lever into P and securely set the
parking brake.
When you move the selector lever
into D, 2, 1 or R, creep will cause
the vehicle to move.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 187
Warning (Continued)
When pulling away from a
standstill, you must control the
speed using only the accelerator
pedal. Operate the accelerator
pedal carefully.
Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. The vehicle may make a
sudden start, possibly causing an
accident.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
When pulling away, visually check
the position of the selector lever.
If you always press the push button
while operating the selector lever,
the lever may occasionally move to
the other gear position against your
intentions.
Practice operating the selector lever
between the N and D without
pressing the push button. Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. Doing so is dangerous
because the vehicle would
suddenly move.
Do not operate the automatic
transmission at or near stall
condition for more than
five seconds. Stall condition is when
the transmission is in one of the
driving ranges, the engine is running
at high speed, but the drive wheels
are unable to move. This condition
might occur if the vehicle is stuck in
deep sand or is pushing against a
fixed barrier. Operating the
transmission at stall condition will
result in overheating and damage.
Do not hold your vehicle on an
upgrade with the accelerator pedal.
Doing so will result in automatic
transmission overheating and
damage. Use the parking brake or
foot brake to hold the vehicle on an
upgrade.
Even if you plan to move only a
short distance, sit in the correct
driving position and make sure you
can firmly press the brake and
accelerator pedals.
When you reverse, you twist to look
rearward so pedal operation
becomes difficult. Firmly press the
brake pedal. Also, practice returning
the selector lever immediately to the
N position after reversing. When
pulling away, visually check the
selector lever position and the shift
indicator.
When the vehicle is stopped, do not
keep pressing the accelerator pedal
with the selector lever in a forward
gear or R position while pressing
the brake pedal. Doing so may
cause a breakdown.
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.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
188 Driving and Operating
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 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 for forward movement,
or R for backward movement),
release the parking brake,
release the brake pedal, and
then gradually press the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
starts moving as you press the
accelerator pedal further. On a steep slope:
Make sure that the shift indicator
indicates the correct gear (D 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)
0 82, Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle 0149, Selector Lever 0194,
and Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check 0251.
Normal Driving
When you move the selector lever
from P into D, shifting takes place in
the automatic mode. Check that D 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.
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), 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

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 189
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, 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 may cause the automatic
transmission fluid to overheat.
Drive with the overdrive off switch
ON to keep the engine revolutions
constant to enable smoother driving
with fewer changes in engine
revolutions.Driving conditions Selector lever position
Normal uphill road D (overdrive off switch ON)
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.
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.
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.
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 0122.
Driving at Low Speeds for
Sustained Periods
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 18 km/h (11 MPH).
Select 2 position during low speed
operation under 36 km/h (22 MPH).

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
190 Driving and Operating
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid
Temperature Warning Light 078.
To Stop Your Vehicle 1. To temporarily stop the vehicle, press the brake pedal firmly
while the selector lever is in D.
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, 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, 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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
2. Move the selector lever in the P 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 0149, and Parking Brake
0 200.