2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO check engine light

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
276 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the
drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the intended path. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. See
Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) 0327.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0238
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section. When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in Four-Wheel Drive Low, the
stability system is automatically
disabled,
gcomes on, and the
appropriate message will appear on
the DIC. Both traction control and
StabiliTrak are automatically
disabled in this condition.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Driving and Operating 293
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel with a posted octane
rating of less than the
recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel
economy and performance,
and may decrease the life of
the emissions catalyst.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
may not pass a smog-check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0147. If this occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see
“Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel 0292.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0292.
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer. If your vehicle is able to use E85 or
FlexFuel, GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner - FlexFuel is the
only recommended additive for use.
Do not use any other additives with
an E85 or FlexFuel vehicle. See
E85 or FlexFuel
0293.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow sticker on the
fuel door can use either unleaded
gasoline or fuel containing up to
85% ethanol (E85). All other
vehicles should use only the
unleaded gasoline as described in
Fuel 0292.
The use of E85 or FlexFuel is
encouraged when the vehicle is
designed to use it. E85 or FlexFuel
is made from renewable sources.
To help locate fuel stations that
carry E85 or FlexFuel, the U.S.
Department of Energy has an
alternative fuels website. See
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/
stations.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Driving and Operating 329
Warning (Continued)
(20-25 mph) and fully apply
the manual trailer brake
apply lever. Also check that
the trailer brake lamps and
other lamps are functioning
correctly.
. If the trailer brakes are not
operating properly at any
time, or if a DIC message
indicates problems with the
trailer connections or trailer
brakes, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of
the road when traffic
conditions allow.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0147.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 090 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 90.
For information on wiring auxiliary
switches, see www.gmupfitter.com
or contact your dealer.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
334 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 335
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 336
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 346
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 347
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 350
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 350
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 351
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 356 Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Power Steering Fluid (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Battery - North America . . . . . . 362
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 366
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 367
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 368
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 369
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 369
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices andWiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Electrical System Overload . . . 375
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 376
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 351
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0451 for the proper fluid
to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check clutch fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the
system. Adding fluid will not correct
a leak. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir
cap has this symbol on it. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 338 for reservoir location.
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0451 for the proper fluid
to use. The fluid requires changing.
See Maintenance Schedule 0443.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the clutch fluid
reservoir. The hydraulic clutch fluid
system should be closed and
sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check the
fluid level or to top-off the fluid level.
Remove the cap only when
necessary to add the proper fluid.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see “8-Cylinder Pickup Models”
under “Engine Air Cleaner/Filter” in
the Duramax diesel supplement for
the correct inspection and
replacement procedures. The engine air cleaner/filter is on
the passenger side of the engine
compartment. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0338.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air filter, see
Maintenance Schedule 0443.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
362 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0149.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time.
Replace brake fluid at the specified
intervals to prevent increased
stopping distance. See Maintenance
Schedule 0443.
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0338.
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see if
there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level is above MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0451.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0338 for battery location.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 423
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need more
light.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.6. Check that the jumper cables
do not have loose or missing
insulation. If they do, you could
get a shock. The vehicles
could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables,
here are some basic things you
should know. Positive (+) will
go to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative (−)
will go to a heavy, unpainted
metal engine part or to a
remote negative (−) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get a
short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts
too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the
dead battery because this can
cause sparks.
5.3L Shown, 4.3L, 6.0L, 6.2L, and
6.6L Similar
7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the
dead battery.
8. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the
positive (+) terminal of the
good battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Service and Maintenance 449
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0451 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled. Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.