Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
220 Driving and Operating
Parking Brake
Parking Brake Lever
When parking or stopping your
vehicle, engage the parking brake
and make sure that the vehicle does
not start moving. Avoid parking your
vehicle on a slope as much as
possible and choose a level and flat
place. If parking on a slope is
unavoidable, be sure to set the
parking brake, make sure that the
vehicle does not move, and block
the wheels with chocks for added
safety.
Illumination of the parking brake
warning light does not mean that the
parking brake is fully applied. The
parking brake lever must be fully
engaged.
When you engage the parking brake
lever, air pressure is reduced and all
four wheel brakes are applied.
{Warning
Although the parking brake
indicator light will come on if the
parking brake is engaged while
the engine control switch is in the
ON position, this does not mean
the parking brake is fully
engaged, so always make sure
the lever is fully pulled up.
Never drive the vehicle with the
parking brake set as this will
cause excessive wear, reduce
parking brake effectiveness and
increase fuel consumption.
Choose a flat place where
stopping and parking are
permitted and where the vehicle
will not obstruct traffic.
Remove all dirt from the vehicle's
light lenses and reflectors to
ensure that the vehicle can be
seen from other vehicles. You and
others could be seriously injured.
Avoid parking for long periods with
cargo on the vehicle.
{Warning
Do not use the parking brake
while the vehicle is in motion
except in an emergency. Applying
the parking brake before the
vehicle has stopped can cause
the tires to lock or the vehicle to
spin, possibly causing an
accident. Unless the parking
brake is fully released during
driving, a fault and/or a fire may
result.
If it was necessary to use the
parking brake during driving, be
sure to check afterwards to
determine if any fault or failure
has resulted.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Vehicle Care 239
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 240
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 240
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Cab Tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 253
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 259
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 262
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Battery - North America . . . . . . 269 Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Rear Axle (Gear Oil Viscosity
Chart) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Rear Axle (Oil Level Check) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 272
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 275
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Roofmarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Sidemarker Lamps (Including Turn Signal and Cornering
Lamps) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 286
Interior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 287
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
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Vehicle Care 295
{Warning
Always use fuses specified by the
dealer when replacing the
slow-blow fuse. Using fuses with
a rating other than that specified,
or using wire or tin foil, etc., could
result in fire or damage.
If the new fuses blow right away
and the cause is unknown,
contact your dealer.
Do not inspect or replace fuses
when the starter switch is in the
ON position. Doing so may lead
to an accident.
When inspecting fuses, be sure to
park the vehicle on flat, level
ground and apply chocks to the
wheels.It is not necessary to open or close
the cover unless trouble is found.
The relay box structure makes it
difficult for water to enter. If you
should spill water or a beverage of
the cover, however, wipe it off
before opening the cover.
The area around the cover will get
warm when the vehicle is being
driven, but this is not abnormal.
Wheels and Tires
The operating load and cold inflation
pressure on the rim and wheel must
not exceed the rim and wheel
manufacturer's recommendations
even though the tire may be
approved for a higher load or
inflation. Rim and wheel may be
identified (stamped) with maximum
load and maximum cold inflation
rating. For rims and wheels not so
identified or for service conditions
exceeding the rate capacities,
consult the rim and wheel
manufacturer to determine rim and
wheel capacities for the intended
service. The factory-installed tires
on this vehicle were selected to
provide the best all-around tire
performance for normal operation.
When inflated, as shown on the
vehicle, they have the load carrying
capacity to operate satisfactorily at
all loads up to and including the full
rated load specified for the vehicle.
For more information concerning the
differences in capacities of tires and
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
296 Vehicle Care
rims, refer to the“Tire and Rim
Association Inc. Yearbook”, or your
tire dealer.
Tire Inflation
{Warning
To reduce the risk of loss of
vehicle control and personal
injury:
Tires must be properly inflated,
and your vehicle must not be
overloaded (see the information
on Information on Loading the
Vehicle 058 and "Tire Load and
Inflation Table" under Tire
Pressure 0307).
Be sure to keep tires properly
inflated. A tire that is run while
seriously underinflated may
overheat to the point where the
tire may lose air suddenly and/or
catch fire, possibly resulting in
personal injury and/or property
damage. See
“Tire Load and Inflation Table”
under Tire Pressure 0307.
In no case should the front or rear
tire load exceed the maximum
recommended gross axle weight
rating (front GAWR or rear GAWR).
The efficiency of the vehicle will be
upset if air pressure in the tires are
not equal. Balanced inflation results
when the tires on the same axle
carry the same air pressure.
A difference in pressure between
the front and rear tires may be
permissible within certain limitations,
however, there should not be a
difference in pressures between the
right and left tires on the same axle.
Always use a truck tire pressure
gauge (a pocket-type gauge is not
advised) when checking inflation
pressures. Visual inspection of tires
for inflation pressures is not enough,
especially in the case of radial tires.
Underinflated radial tires may look
similar to correctly inflated radial
tires. If the inflation pressure on a
tire is found to be low frequently,
have your dealer correct the cause. Be sure to install the tire inflation
valve caps to prevent dirt and
moisture from getting into the valve
core, which could cause air leakage.
An underinflated tire in a dual wheel
assembly is harder to notice than
one in a single wheel assembly. The
properly inflated dual tire carries its
own load plus that of the
underinflated tire. Both tires can
overheat, which may result in
property damage and/or personal
injury (see previous WARNING).
Tires Used or Stored for a Long
Period of Time
Tires are a rubber product and
degrade over time, even if they are
not being used. If any of your tires is
5 to 7 years old or more, please
have them inspected for safe
driving. For further information,
please check with the tire
manufacturer.
Dual Tire Operation
The outer tire of a pair on dual
wheel installations generally wears
faster than the inner tire. If this
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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Vehicle Care 297
occurs, reverse the position of the
tires to equalize wear and get better
tire life.
In addition, when trucks are driven
continuously on high-crown roads,
an increase in air pressure of
35 kPa (5 psi) in the outer tire of a
dual tire operation will prolong outer
tire life. Be sure not to exceed the
inflation pressure limits shown on
the“VIN, Weight Rating, and
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Plate.” SeeVehicle Identification
Number (VIN) 0353.
Wheel and Tire Balancing
Proper tire balancing provides the
best riding comfort and helps to
reduce tire tread wear.
Out-of-balance tires can cause
annoying vehicle vibration and
uneven tire wear, such as cupping
and flat spots. See your authorized
dealer for wheel balancing.
Front End Alignment
Proper front end alignment improves
tire tread mileage. Your vehicle's
front end suspension parts should
be inspected often and aligned when needed. (See the
Maintenance Schedule for more
information.) Improper alignment will
not cause the vehicle to vibrate;
however, improper toe-in alignment
will cause front tires to roll at an
angle that will result in faster tire
wear. Incorrect caster or camber
alignment will cause your front tires
to wear unevenly, and may cause
the vehicle to "pull" to the left or
right.
Tire Traction
A decrease in driving, cornering and
braking traction occurs when water,
snow, ice, gravel or other material is
on the road surface. Driving
practices and vehicle speed should
be adjusted to the road conditions.
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, it is possible for a wedge of
water to build up between the tire
and road surface. This is known as
hydroplaning, and may cause partial
or complete loss of traction, vehicle
control and stopping ability; this
condition is also more likely with
worn tires.
To reduce the chance of traction
loss, follow these tips:
.
Slow down during rainstorms or
when roads are slushy.
. Slow down if the road has
standing water or puddles.
. Replace tires when front tread
depth is 3.2 mm (4/32 in.) and
rear tread depth is 1.6 mm
(2/32 in.).
. Keep tires properly inflated.
Tire Replacement
Recommendations
{Warning
Do not mix different construction
types of tires on your vehicle such
as radial, bias and bias-belted
tires except in emergencies,
because vehicle handling could
be affected and may result in loss
of vehicle control, or personal
injury or death. (Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
300 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Consult your dealer before
replacing wheels. Never use
wheels that are not designed for
the vehicle. Doing so would
impede safe vehicle operation.
The use of wheels and/or tires with
higher load carrying limits than
originally equipped on your vehicle
does not in itself increase the
GAWR or the GVWR of the vehicle.
Replacement wheels can be
obtained from the authorized dealer
or tire dealer. Checking Tires
Air Pressure
Too low or too high a tire air
pressure not only affects the ride or
causes damage to the cargo but
also causes abnormal heat buildup,
premature wear, a tire puncture,
or may even cause the tire to burst.
Use an appropriate tire air pressure
gauge when measuring the air
pressure of a tire. Tire air pressure
should be measured when the tire is
cold, or before the vehicle is driven.
(After driving, tire air pressure
increases by about 10%.)As the tire air pressure varies
depending on the vehicle model and
tire size, refer to the
“VIN, Weight
Rating, and Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) Emissions Plate” on the
driver's door opening frame or the
tire air pressure information on the
following table.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Vehicle Care 301
Tire sizeTire air pressure
kPa (psi) GVW
kg (lb.)
Front RearFront Rear
LT215/85R16E LT215/85R16E 550 (80)550 (80) 6 577
(14,500)
225/70R19.5F 225/70R19.5F 590 (85)590 (85) 7 258
(16,000)
225/70R19.5F 225/70R19.5F 620 (90)620 (90) 8 142
(17,950)
225/70R19.5F 225/70R19.5F 660 (95)660 (95) 8 845
(19,500)
See “VIN, Weight Rating, and
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Plate” underVehicle Identification
Number (VIN) 0353.
See “Tire Load and Inflation Table”
under Tire Pressure 0307.
{Warning
Insufficiently inflated or worn-out
tires are highly dangerous as they
easily skid and can even burst.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Should they burst, the tires may
burn and this could cause a fire in
the vehicle.
If you drive on under-inflated or
flat tires, the wheel studs will be
placed under excessive stress.
Under such conditions, the bolts
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
may break and the wheel may
detach from the vehicle, possibly
causing a crash.
Over-inflated tires result in a
harsh ride and are likely to cause
damage to the cargo.
Under-inflated tires build up heat(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
302 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
and could burst. Always keep the
tires of your vehicle adjusted at
the standard air pressures.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
There should not be a difference in
air pressure between the inside and
outside
tires on a dual-tire wheel.
It is not easy to visually identify an
under-inflated dual-wheel tire or low
aspect ratio tire (aspect ratio at
70%). Always use an appropriate
tire air pressure gauge to check the
air pressure of any tire.
If your vehicle is equipped with
aluminum wheels, use an extension
attached to the inner tire valve
together with a standard tire air
pressure gauge or use a special air
pressure gauge when checking the
air pressure of a dual-wheel's
inner tire. Cracks and Other Damage
1. Sidewall surface
2. Gap between inner and
outer tires
3. Tread
Check the tread and sidewall
surfaces of each tire for cracks or
other damage. Especially check the
tread for nails or other metal pieces
embedded in grooves and also the
gap between the inner and outer
tires of a dual-tire wheel for pebbles
lodged in it. When checking tires, pay special
attention to: low air pressure;
pebbles or nails in tread grooves;
cracks or other damage on tire
surfaces; uneven wear; and pebbles
lodged in the gap between tires of
dual-wheel tires.
Tread Depth and Abnormal Wear
Tread Wear Indicator Position
Mark (Example)