2019 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 four wheel drive

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 225
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 234
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 235
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 237
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 246
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 251
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 254
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 256
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 272
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 275
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 279
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 280
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . 285
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) (2500/3500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 290
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 290
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
230 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without four-wheel drive and
vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR)
tires must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid surface. For
contact information about the
original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful
off-road driving is to control the
speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear seat belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
. Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
. Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
. Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
. Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower air
dam, if equipped. However, driving
without the air dam reduces fuel
economy.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
238 Driving and Operating
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. For four-wheel-drive
vehicles, shift into Four-Wheel Drive
High. Turn the TCS off. Shift back
and forth between R (Reverse) and
a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. See
Towing the Vehicle0412. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle
has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Caution
Never use recovery hooks to tow
the vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged, and the repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
There are recovery hooks at the
front of the vehicle. Use them if the
vehicle is stuck off-road and needs
to be pulled some place to continue
driving.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 247
Ignition Positions
0. Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF
1. ACC/ACCESSORY
2. ON/RUN
3. START
The ignition switch has four
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), with an
automatic transmission, the ignition
must be ON/RUN and the brake
pedal must be applied.0 (STOPPING THE ENGINE/LOCK/
OFF) :
This position turns off the
vehicle. It also locks the ignition, the
transmission on an automatic
transmission vehicle, and the
steering column, if equipped with a
locking steering column.
To turn off the vehicle:
1. Make sure that the vehicle is stopped.
2. Shift to P (Park) with an automatic transmission,
or Neutral with a manual
transmission. 3. Push the key all the way in
towards the steering column,
then turn the key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key.
5. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0271.
See your dealer if the key can be
removed in any other position.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) 0251.
A warning chime will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
key is in the ignition.
If equipped with a locking steering
column, the steering can bind with
the front wheels turned off center,
which may prevent key rotation out
of LOCK/OFF. If this happens, move
the steering wheel from right to left
while turning the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 253
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. With four-wheel drive,
if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be
free to roll, even if the shift lever
is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0294.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0271. 2. Move the shift lever into the
P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case (if equipped) is in a drive gear–
not in N (Neutral).
4. Push the ignition key in, towards the steering column
and then turn the ignition off.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the
vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear –not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 257
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the vehicle will be free to roll if the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
even when the shift lever is in
P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear—2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Four-Wheel Drive 0262.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see
If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0237.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
262 Driving and Operating
If equipped, on vehicles with a
gasoline engine, to disable or
enable Tow/Haul Grade Braking
within the current ignition key cycle,
press and hold the Tow/Haul button
for five seconds. When the button is
released, the requested mode
change is made. A DIC message is
displayed.
On vehicles with a diesel engine,
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking can
be enabled or disabled by pressing
the Tow/Haul Mode button. Use the
exhaust brake and Tow/Haul Mode
for maximum grade braking.
SeeTowing Equipment 0306.
For other forms of grade braking,
see Automatic Transmission 0256
and Cruise Control 0276.Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive
engages the front axle for extra
traction.
Read the appropriate section for
transfer case operation before
using.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry
pavement in 4
mand 4n(if
equipped) for an extended period
of time. These conditions may
cause premature wear on the
vehicle’s powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in
4
mor 4nmay:
. Cause a vibration to be felt in
the steering system.
. Cause tires to wear faster.
. Make the transfer case harder to
shift, and cause it to run noisier.
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the vehicle will be free to roll if the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
even when the shift lever is in
P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear —2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Shifting Into Park 0253.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in
4
nmay damage or shorten the
life of the drivetrain.
Engagement noise and bump when
shifting between 4
nand 4mor from
N (Neutral), with the engine running,
is normal.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 263
Shifting into 4nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0273.
Manual Transfer Case
Move the lever to shift into and out
of four-wheel drive.
An indicator light comes on when
four-wheel drive is engaged. See
Four-Wheel-Drive Light 0150.
N (Neutral) : Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing
0 412 orTowing the Vehicle 0412.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting for driving on most
streets and highways. The front axle
is not engaged. This setting
provides the best fuel economy.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting also engages the front axle
and delivers extra torque. Choose
4
nif driving off-road in deep sand,
deep mud, or deep snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
When engaged, keep vehicle speed
below 72 km/h (45 mph).
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting when extra traction is
needed. The front axle engages and
helps when driving on snowy or icy
roads, when off-roading, or when
plowing snow. The vehicle can be shifted between
2
mand 4mwhile the vehicle is
moving. In extremely cold weather,
it may be necessary to stop or slow
the vehicle to shift into 4
m.
Using the Manual Transfer Case
. Use quick motions to shift into or
out of 4
nor N (Neutral).
. Shifting may be harder when the
vehicle is cold, but will return to
normal once warmed up.
. Four-wheel drive reduces fuel
economy.
. Delayed shifts from 4
mto 2m
may be experienced due to
uneven tire wear, low tire
pressure, high vehicle loading,
or cold temperatures.
Shifting from 2
mto 4m
. Shifts can be made at any
vehicle speed.
. Shift in one continuous motion.