Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
126 Driving and Operating
breakdown on a highway
represents a hazard to other
vehicles and can cause an
accident. Concentrate on safe
driving. Remember to perform
daily pre-operation inspections
and use highway driving
techniques. When performing
daily pre-operation inspections,
perform the checks shown in the
table on the left with particularly
great care.
Refer toOwner Checks and
Services 0317.
. When merging with traffic on a
highway, use the turn signal
lights to indicate your intentions
ahead of time. Speed up
sufficiently when you are in the
acceleration lane. Pay attention
to vehicles behind you and to
conditions in the lane you are
joining. Merge in such a way that
you do not obstruct vehicles in
the lane.
. Your sense of how fast you are
traveling becomes distorted on
long highway drives. Constantly keep an eye on the
speedometer, and maintain a
suitable headway distance.
. During high-speed driving, even
a little turn of the steering wheel
causes a big movement of the
vehicle. Turn the steering wheel
slowly.
. Excessive use of the brake
pedal is extremely dangerous
because it rapidly wears the
brake linings and causes brake
fade. Make effective use of the
engine brake and the exhaust
brake when you want to
decelerate.
. When you want to turn off a
highway, use the turn signal
lights to indicate your intentions
ahead of time. Paying attention
to vehicles behind you, turn off
the highway smoothly so as not
to obstruct other vehicles.
Brake Fade : Frequent use of the
brakes can cause the brakes to
overheat so that the frictional force
of the brake linings decreases and the brakes become less effective
than normal. This phenomenon is
called brake fade.
Braking
Brake Operation
The brakes give strong braking
force with only light pressure on the
pedal. Do not press the brake pedal
hard except in the event of an
emergency.
Actual stopping distances vary
greatly. Your ability to stop safely
will be greatly affected by the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the
brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
the weight of the load; and the
amount of brake force applied.
Please allow for realistic stopping
distances to avoid unnecessary
heavy braking. That means better
braking, longer brake life and safer
driving.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 129
Warning (Continued)
To reduce the chance of personal
injury and/or vehicle damage due
to engine overheating, never
leave the engine idling without an
alert driver present. If the engine
should overheat, as indicated by
the engine coolant temperature
gauge, immediate action is
required to correct the condition.
Continued operation of the
engine, even for a short time, may
result in a fire. Do not engage the
exhaust brake while the engine is
idling as this may cause engine
overheating.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF)
may automatically start
regeneration when the vehicle is
stopped and parked with the
engine running. To prevent a fire,
make sure there is no flammable
material near the muffler, DPF,
and exhaust pipe. Be careful not
to get burned by hot exhaust
gases.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Do Not Forget to Release the
Parking Brake
Pulling away with the parking brake
still applied can damage the brake
system.
Before pulling away, make sure the
parking brake is not set by checking
that the parking brake indicator light
is not on.
Be Sure to Have the Engine
Running When the Vehicle is
Moving
{Warning
When the engine is not running,
the power steering system does
not work so the steering wheel is
hard to turn. Also, the brake
booster does not work so there is
little braking ability. If you coast (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
down a slope without the engine
running, you would not be able to
properly control the vehicle and
could have an accident.
Parking, or Leaving
Driver’s Seat
{Danger
It can be dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the selector lever is
not fully in "P" (Park) or the
parking brake is not applied all
the way. Your vehicle can roll or
move suddenly.
To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are parking
on level ground, follow the steps
below. (If you have to park on a
hill, also turn your front wheels so
the vehicle will roll away from
traffic.)
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 135
Pay Attention to the Way the
Steering Wheel Turns and Feels
On snowy roads, water and snow
splashed up by the tires can freeze
and accumulate inside the fenders,
making the steering wheel hard to
turn. From time to time, get out of
the vehicle and remove any
accumulated snow.
Check the Brakes from Time
to Time
When the vehicle is driven or
parked on a snowy surface, ice can
form on the brakes, decreasing their
effectiveness. From time to time
while you are driving, press the
brake pedal lightly and check the
effectiveness of the brakes. Pay
attention to vehicles both ahead of
and behind you when checking the
brakes in this way.
Also, check the effectiveness of the
brakes as soon as possible when
starting to drive the vehicle after it
has been parked. If the brakes do
not work well, drive slowly and
gently press the brake pedal several
times until the brakes dry out and
start working normally.Parking in Cold Regions
When snow collects around the
wheels and the lights, try to remove
it before night falls.
Do not apply the parking brake in
extremely cold weather, such as in
temperatures or at below 0 °C
(32 °F). If you leave the parking
brake applied, the wires and brake
shoes could freeze up, making it
impossible for you to release the
parking brake. Be sure to park the
vehicle in gear.
Be sure to put chocks against the
tires.
Whenever possible, park in a
garage to help prevent parts from
freezing up and to help make the
engine easy to start.
{Warning
If you park in a place where there
is a lot of snowfall, snow
accumulating around the vehicle
could limit ventilation. Running
the engine with the vehicle in(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
these conditions could cause
exhaust gases to enter the cabin,
resulting in carbon monoxide
poisoning. Take preventive action
by, for example, clearing the snow
around the vehicle.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Do not park under trees or under
the eaves of a building. Chunks of
ice could fall on the vehicle if you
park in such a place.
Cleaning the Vehicle after
Driving on Snowy Roads
. The vehicle speed sensors are
fitted on the wheels. When
removing snow, ice, and other
incrustation, take great care not
to damage the components.
. Do not use a sharp implement to
remove snow. Sharp edges
could damage rubber parts.
Refer to Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0196.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 149
The starting circuit, engine alarm
circuits and accessory circuits are
all controlled by the engine control
switch.1 LOCK :Lock is in the position
fully counterclockwise. In this
position, the key can be inserted or
removed. To place the engine
control switch in the LOCK position,
press and hold the key in the ACC
position and then turn it to the
LOCK position. If you will leave the
vehicle, remove the key and turn the
steering wheel until it locks. The
steering wheel will be locked to help
prevent theft.
2 ACC : Accessory is in the first
position clockwise. In this position,
the audio and other accessories can
be used with the engine stopped.
3 ON : This ON position is in the
second position clockwise. The key
stays in this position while the
engine is running. Engine control,
warning circuits, gauge circuits, and
accessory circuits are energized.
The engine cylinder heaters or glow
plugs are also turned on when the
switch is in the ON position. The
wait-to-start light will come on and
stay on until the glow plugs are heated enough. When this light
goes off, turn the switch to the
START position.
4 START :
On all engines, start is in
the position furthest clockwise. The
engine is started in this position.
Turn the key against spring
pressure to energize the starter.
When key is released, spring
pressure returns it to the ON
position. Release the key as soon
as the engine has started.
If the key cannot be turned from the
LOCK position to the ON position,
lightly move the steering wheel
clockwise and counterclockwise
while trying to turn the key.
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle
Check around the Vehicle before
Starting the Engine
Proper care and operation will not
only extend the service life of your
vehicle but also improve fuel
economy.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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150 Driving and Operating
Before pulling away, perform a
thorough safety check, making sure
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle. Take off the
chocks after confirming that the
parking brake is securely applied.
Sit behind the wheel, adjust the seat
position, and buckle up the seat
belt. The passengers are also
required to buckle up the seat belts.
Adjust the positions of the steering
wheel and mirrors. Lock the doors.
Turn the power of the dome light or
accessories OFF before starting the
engine. SeeSeat Position 038,
Seat Belts 043, Steering Wheel
Adjustment 065, and Mirrors033.
Keep the Floor Around the
Driver's Seat Clean and Tidy
{Warning
It is extremely dangerous to have
empty cans, empty bottles or
other items rolling around on the
floor because they could get
trapped under the brake pedal (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
and prevent brake application.
For proper pedal operation, it is
also essential to lay floor mats
properly. Incorrectly installed floor
mats would hinder free movement
of the pedals.
Do not use the dashboard pocket
or the top of the dashboard as a
place to put items that could roll,
which could interfere with your
driving. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Choose Your Footwear Suitable
for Driving
{Warning
Choose footwear that ensures
proper operation of pedals when
driving the vehicle. Use of
footwear unsuitable for driving
may cause an accident. Starting the Engine
Do not keep the engine control
switch in the START position for
more than about 10 seconds.
Operating the starter for too long
might cause starter and battery
failure or may result in overheating.
When the engine does not start,
wait for 20 to 30 seconds and then
turn the engine control switch again.
Before starting the engine sit in the
driver seat, check that the parking
brake is firmly engaged, the selector
lever is in the P or N (P is preferred)
position and the shift indicator also
shows P or N, and firmly press the
brake pedal to start the engine.
When stopped on a slope, start the
engine with the selector lever in the
P position. See
Ignition Positions
0 148.
1. Make sure that the selector lever is in the P or N position
and firmly press the brake
pedal.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 151
2. When the engine control switchis turned to the ON position,
the wait-to-start light comes on
and it goes out in about
1 second when the engine is
warm, to about 10 seconds
when the engine is cold.
3. After confirming that the wait-to-start light has gone out,
turn the engine control switch
to the START position to start
the engine. Release the engine
control switch as soon as the
engine starts.
4. Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a
time. If the engine does not
start, wait 20 to 30 seconds
with the engine control switch
in the LOCK or ACC position
before trying to start again. It is normal for the vacuum warning
buzzer to sound for a few seconds
after the engine has started.
After the engine has started, check
to be sure the selector lever is still
in the P position.
This engine has an automatic
warm-up system that increases
engine idle speed and applies the
exhaust brake. Allow sufficient time
to let the engine circulate lubricant
oil before driving. This usually
requires 30 seconds to 2 minutes
depending on ambient conditions.
See
Brake System Warning Light
(Parking Brake Light) 075.
The turbocharged engine should be
started in a way which ensures the
bearings supporting the rotating
parts of the turbocharger are
sufficiently lubricated. Do not race a
cold engine.
At low ambient temperatures, a cold
engine may emit more smoke than
usual.
Do not drive the truck until the
engine has had sufficient time to
circulate the lubricant oil. This usually requires 30 seconds to
2 minutes depending on ambient
conditions. This will help reduce
white start-up smoke.
Preheating :
Diesel engines are
compression ignited, which makes
them difficult to start when they are
cold because the compression
alone cannot create a temperature
high enough for fuel to ignite.
Preheating means warming the
compressed air inside the
combustion chambers to facilitate
engine starting. Be sure to start the
engine after the wait-to-start light
has gone out.
Start : Do not press the accelerator
pedal at the engine start. The
accelerator opening degree at the
engine start is electronically
controlled.
Warm-up : Do not race the engine
to speed warm-up.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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156 Driving and Operating
Activating High Idle Mode
Follow the below procedure to
activate the high idle mode:1. Set the parking brake.
2. Set the selector lever in P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
3. Do not press the brake pedal. 4. Press the cruise control main
switch to set it to ON. At this
time, the operation indicating
light will turn to green.
5. Turn and hold the cruise control set switch in the SET
position. After approximately
3 seconds the cruise control
set indicator light will begin to
flash slowly and the engine idle
will increase to 1,200 r/min.
Canceling High Idle Mode
Any of the following actions will
cancel high idle mode.
. The cruise control main switch is
set to OFF.
. The brake pedal is pressed.
. The parking brake is released.
. The selector lever is moved from
P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
. The accelerator pedal is
pressed, accelerating the engine
beyond the engine speed
threshold.
The cruise set indicator light will
stop flashing and the engine speed
will return to normal.
Engine Checks Before
Operating
Checks Before Operating
Allow the engine to warm up before
placing the engine under heavy load
driving. While the engine is warming
up under light load, the following
checks should be made:
1. Observe the red engine oil pressure warning light. The
light should go out when the
engine is running. If it stays on,
shut the engine off and find the
cause.
2. Look at the engine coolant temperature gauge. If the
gauge reaches the H (HOT)
area, stop the engine and find
the cause of the overheating.
3. Check that the battery warning light has gone out. The light
should go off and stay off at
normal idle speeds. If the light
does not go out or comes on
during normal operation, have
the charging system checked.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 157
4. Check that the brake lowvacuum warning light is out
and that the vacuum buzzer is
not sounding. It is normal for
the warning buzzer to sound
for a few seconds after the
engine starts. If the light and
buzzer remain on, do not drive
the vehicle until the cause has
been found and corrected.
5. Look at the brake system warning light. It should be out
when the parking brake is
released and the engine is
running. If it stays on, it could
mean that the brake fluid level
is low. Check the brake fluid
reservoir. This condition must
be corrected before moving the
vehicle.
{Warning
To reduce the chance of personal
injury and/or vehicle damage due
to engine overheating, never
leave the engine idling without an
alert driver present. If the engine
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
should overheat, as indicated by
the engine coolant temperature
gauge, immediate action is
required to correct the condition.
Continued operation of the
engine, even for a short time, may
result in a fire.
Do not engage the exhaust brake
while the engine is idling as this
may cause engine overheating.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Avoid Unnecessary Idling of the
Diesel Engine
If the diesel engine idles too long,
the engine coolant temperature will
fall below the operating range. Low
engine operating temperature
causes several conditions that are
harmful to engine operation and life.
Incomplete combustion of fuel in an
engine that is not fully warmed-up
causes crankcase dilution and
forms lacquer and gummy deposits on valves, pistons, and rings. It also
causes rapid accumulation of
sludge within the engine.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Exhaust parts and gases become
very hot when the DPF is being
regenerated.
Parking over flammable items
could allow them to touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle
and cause them to ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, grass
or other things that can burn. You
and others could be seriously
injured.
Keep Flammable Material Away
from the Vehicle
The exhaust pipe is extremely hot
immediately after vehicle operation.
Before parking, make sure the area
is free of flammable material (for