Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 311
your dealer or a qualified service
center. If equipped, wiring
provisions for an aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller are included
with the vehicle as part of the trailer
wiring package. The harness
contains the following circuits:Electric Trailer
Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Black or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black
Refer to the aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller owner's
manual to determine wire color
coding of the electric trailer brake
controller. The wire colors on the
brake controller may be different
from the vehicle. The fuse for the
electric trailer brake circuit is in the
engine compartment fuse block, but
the wires may not be connected.
They should be connected by your
dealer or a qualified service center.Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals should will illuminate to
indicate the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate
even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter
Tow/Haul mode, see Tow/Haul
Mode 0261.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See
“Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0298.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
. through rolling terrain.
. in stop-and-go traffic.
. in busy parking lots.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and
may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy.Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
TThe vehicle may have an
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system for use with electric
trailer brakes or most electric over
hydraulic trailer brake system
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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316 Driving and Operating
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Reduce vehicle
speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer
sway continues, StabiliTrak can
reduce engine torque to help slow
the vehicle. TSC will not function if
StabiliTrak is turned off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death,
even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from
the accelerator. Then pull over to
check the trailer and vehicle to
help correct possible causes,
including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. SeeTowing
Equipment 0306 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Aftermarket Electronic Trailer
Sway Control Devices
Some trailers may come equipped
with an electronic device designed
to reduce or control trailer sway.
Aftermarket equipment
manufacturers also offer similar
devices that connect to the wiring
between the trailer and the vehicle.
These devices may interfere with the vehicle’
s trailer brake systems
or other systems, including
integrated anti-sway systems,
if equipped. Messages related to
trailer connections or trailer brakes
could appear on the DIC. The
effects of these aftermarket devices
on vehicle handling or trailer brake
performance is not known.
{Warning
Use of aftermarket electronic
trailer sway control devices could
result in reduced trailer brake
performance, loss of trailer
brakes, or other malfunctions, and
result in a crash. You or others
could be seriously injured or
killed. Before using one of these
devices:
. Ask the device or trailer
manufacturer if the device
has been thoroughly tested
for compatibility with the
make, model, and year of
(Continued)
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Driving and Operating 319
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, follow these guidelines:
Caution
If the vehicle does not have the
snow plow prep package, RPO
VYU, adding a plow can damage
the vehicle, and the repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to the vehicle. If the
vehicle has RPO VYU, then the
payload the vehicle can carry will
be reduced when a snow plow is
installed. The vehicle can be
damaged if either the front or rear
axle ratings or the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) are
exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry
depends on many things, such as:
. The options the vehicle came
with, and the weight of those
options. .
The weight and number of
passengers to be carried.
. The weight of items added to the
vehicle, like a tool box or
truck cap.
. The total weight of any
additional cargo to be carried.
For example, if the snow plow
weighs 318 kg (700 lb), the total
weight of all occupants and cargo
inside the cab should not exceed
135 kg (300 lb). This means that you
may only be able to carry one
passenger. Even this may be too
much if there is other equipment
already adding to the weight of the
vehicle.
To safely carry a snow plow on the
vehicle:
. Follow all aftermarket snow plow
manufacturer ’s instructions for
the operation and transportation
of the snow plow.
. With a snow plow attached, the
engine coolant temperature
gauge may show a higher
temperature than while driving without one. The snow plow
could block the airflow to the
radiator. This could be more
noticeable as vehicle speed
increases. At speeds above
72 km (45 mph), this may cause
the engine coolant to overheat.
. To increase the airflow, move the
snow plow blade postion.
. If driving more than 24 km
(15 mi), angle the plow blade
position.
. Make sure the weight on the
front and rear axles does not
exceed the axle rating for each.
. For the front axle, if more cargo
or passengers must be carried,
appropriate counter ballast must
be installed rear of the rear axle.
Counter ballast must be properly
secured so it will not move
during driving.
. Rear ballast may be required to
ensure a proper front and rear
weight distribution ratio, even
though the actual weight at the
front axle may be less than the
front axle rating.
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Vehicle Care 323
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 324
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 325
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 333
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 335
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 337
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 338
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 343
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Battery - North America . . . . . . 349
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 352
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 354
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 354
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 355
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 356
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357 High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 361
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 362
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
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Vehicle Care 325
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0349
and Jump Starting - North America
0 408 and the back cover.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 089.
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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328 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Overview
5.3L V8 Engine
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Vehicle Care 329
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0408.
2. Battery - North America 0349.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0339.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0338.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0335
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 337.
6. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0408.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 339.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0331. 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0331.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 346.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0348.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0362.
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330 Vehicle Care
6.0L V8 Engine