Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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148 Driving and Operating
Vapor Lock :If the brakes overheat
due to frequent use, the heat can
cause the brake fluid to boil so that
air bubbles are created in the brake
fluid. Pressing the brake pedal
simply compresses the air bubbles;
pressure is not transmitted to the
wheel cylinders, so the brakes'
effectiveness sharply deteriorates.
This phenomenon is called
vapor lock.
Even so, you should be very careful
when using engine braking in a low
gear because the engine is likely to
over-rev.
See Exhaust Brake 0222 and
Selector Lever 0214.
Do not adjust the exhaust brake
valve.
The engine should never be allowed
to exceed the governed speed.
Supplement the exhaust brake with
vehicle service brakes intermittently
and/or shift to higher transmission
gear to prevent engine overspeed.
A rule of thumb for gear selection is
that the vehicle should be driven
down a grade in the same gear that
would be used to climb that grade.{Warning
To reduce the risk of personal
injury, before going down a steep
or long grade, reduce speed, turn
on the exhaust brake and shift the
transmission to the next lower
gear. This will help control your
speed. Do not hold the brake
pedal down too long or too often
while going down a steep or long
grade. This could cause the
brakes to get hot and not to work
as well. As a result, the truck will
not slow down at the usual rate.
Failure to take these steps could
result in loss of vehicle control.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Brake Effectiveness When the
Vehicle Has Been Driven on a
Flooded Road or Washed
{Warning
When the vehicle is driven on a
flooded road, parked on a flooded
road or washed, water can get
into the brakes and reduce their
effectiveness. If the brakes do not
work well afterward, drive slowly
and gently press the brake pedal
several times until the brakes dry
out and start working normally.
Always do this after driving
through water or washing the
vehicle to help reduce the risk of
personal injury. Before parking
the vehicle in winter, press the
brake pedal several times in the
same way to get rid of moisture in
the brakes. Otherwise, the
moisture in the brakes may freeze
and make the vehicle immovable.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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Driving and Operating 153
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
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) 0216.
Remove snow that has stuck to the
inside of the fenders and to the
brake hoses. Otherwise, it may
damage components. After driving
on a salted road, wash the
underside of the vehicle as soon as
possible to prevent the salt from
causing rust. Spraying water under
high pressure is an effective way to
get the salt off.
After washing the vehicle, wipe the
door openings dry.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
When Driving on Bad Roads
Caution
Do not spin wheels faster than
32 km/h (20 mph) in mud, sand,
snow, ice, or other poor road (Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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154 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
conditions. Damage may result
from excessive wheel spinning,
including tire, transmission, and/
or rear axle malfunction.
If the vehicle gets stuck and it is
difficult to get out, immediately
stop driving and have the vehicle
towed.
If the vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, snow or ice, move the selector
lever from 2 to the R position. Apply
a light pressure to the accelerator
pedal while the transmission is in
gear. Remove your foot from the
accelerator and press the brake
pedal while shifting. Do not race the
engine. For best traction, avoid
spinning the wheels. When you
cannot avoid driving through deep
mud, using tire chains is an effective
way to avoid getting stuck.
When driving in sand or mud, avoid
hard braking, sudden acceleration,
and sharp turns of the steering wheel. Such actions could get the
vehicle stuck and make it difficult to
get out.
After driving through deep mud: any
mud stuck to the vehicle can harm
the steering, brakes and powertrain.
Wash the vehicle and remove all
mud and other debris.
The vehicle speed sensors are fitted
on the wheels. When removing mud
and other debris, take great care not
to damage the components.
Do not use a sharp implement to
remove mud. Sharp edges could
damage rubber parts.
Refer to
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0216 andExterior Care
0 317.
Emergencies
(Troubleshooting)
Troubleshooting
Performing regular inspections and
maintenance prevents damage. Be
sure to perform inspections and
maintenance at regular intervals.
Also, quickly rectify any fault in the vehicle (even a small fault) to
prevent it from becoming more
serious. If a symptom shown in the
following table occurs, perform
inspections and take corrective
action in accordance with the table.
If you are unable to perform a
repair, the corrective action shown
in the table does not eliminate a
symptom or you cannot locate a
fault, contact the nearest dealer.
Any item for which there is a
4in
the "Corrective action" column
requires repairs and adjustments.
Contact the nearest dealer.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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166 Driving and Operating
Mechanical Driveshaft Brake
Burnish Procedure
It is recommended that the
driveshaft mounted parking brake
be burnished as part of the new
vehicle break-in procedure.
Increased parking brake
performance will result when the
parking brake is burnished as
specified below:
.Make 10 moderate stops, using
the hand brake, from 16 km/h
(10 MPH) while spacing the
stops a minimum of 4 km
(2.5 miles) apart.
. Operate the vehicle at 32 km/h
(20 MPH) between stops.Pedals
Sit in a correct driving position on
the seat and operate the brake
pedal (1) and accelerator pedal (2)
with your right foot. To avoid
accidentally pressing the wrong
pedal, check the pedal positions
and practice putting your foot on the
desired pedal.
{Warning
A can or bottle rolling on the floor
may prevent brake pedal
operation if it is caught under the
pedal. This is very dangerous.
A floor mat must be placed
correctly. An incorrectly installed
floor mat may hinder the free
movement of each pedal. You
and others could be seriously
injured.
Ignition Positions
Engine Control Switch
{Warning
While driving, never turn the
engine control switch to the
LOCK position. The key could be
removed from the switch, which
then locks the steering wheel.
This is extremely dangerous.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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Driving and Operating 167
Caution
After starting the engine, do not
turn the engine control switch to
the START position. Otherwise,
the starter motor may be
damaged.
Using electrical devices such as
the audio system for an extended
time period with the engine
stopped can completely discharge
the battery.
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.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
168 Driving and Operating
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.
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. See
Seat 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
and prevent brake application.
For proper pedal operation, it is (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
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Driving and Operating 169
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. SeeIgnition Positions
0 166.
1. Make sure that the selector lever is in the P or N position
and firmly press the brake
pedal.
2. When the engine control switch
is 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) 074.
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
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
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170 Driving and Operating
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. Cold Weather Starting
If you plan ahead for cold weather,
starting and driving your vehicle
should be no problem. The following
tips will help ensure good starting in
cold weather.
Oil gets thicker as it gets colder,
which slows down the engine
cranking speed. The diesel engine
functions by the heat of
compression (and glow plugs when
cold), rather than through the use of
spark plugs as in a gasoline engine.
So, your engine must crank faster
than a gasoline engine before it will
start.
To be sure the engine can turn fast
enough to start, use SAE 10W-40
viscosity engine oil when prevailing
temperatures drop below 0 °C
(32 °F). See the oil quality and oil
viscosity recommendations. Using
the proper viscosity oil will make
starting easier down to -23 °C
(-10 °F). When prevailing
temperatures drop below -23 °C
(-10 °F), the engine block heater
may be needed for starting. See
Engine Heater
0172. Maintenance Items to Aid Cold
Weather Starting
Since the basic principle of diesel
engine ignition is based on
compression, the diesel engine is
somewhat harder to start than a
gasoline engine when the
temperature is below freezing.
To help prevent hard starting
problems, special attention should
be given to following normal
maintenance items:
1. Neglecting to have the fuel filter and water separator
serviced can be one of the
major contributors to hard
starting. If water is permitted to
accumulate in the primary filter,
it will freeze and make starting
the engine impossible.
2. Make sure the fuel tank vent is open.