Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Instruments and Controls 79
Hour Meter
HOUR METER
This message and light indicate how
many hours the engine has been
run. The figure(s) on the left side of
the decimal point indicate hours
while the figure on the right side
indicates 1/10 of an hour.
Warning Buzzers
A warning buzzer may not sound if
there is a problem with the buzzer
system. If this occurs, the system
needs to be inspected. See your
dealer.
A warning buzzer sounds under the
following conditions:
.Driver seat belt not buckled —
continuous beep. See Seat Belt
Reminders 060.
. Brake booster —continuous
beep. See Brake System
Warning Light (Parking Brake
Light) 062.
. Engine overheat —
continuous beep .
Parking brake on —
continuous beep
. Low engine coolant —beep
. Engine alarm and automatic
shutdown —beep
. Diesel particulate filter (DPF)
switch regeneration —three
short beeps or three long beeps
. Selective catalytic reduction
(SCR) system —one short
beep, three short beeps, nine
quick beeps, continuous beep
See Diesel Exhaust Fluid 0180 and
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown 0164.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
80 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 80
Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . 82
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Cornering Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
Turning the light control switch to
the following positions will cause the
relevant lights to illuminate.
The light control switch can be used
when the engine control switch is
placed in the LOCK or ACC
position. Do not operate the
combination lights for an extended
time period with the engine off.
Otherwise, the battery may go dead,
making it impossible to restart the
engine.
9: Turns off all exterior lights.
;:Turns on the parking lights
including all exterior lights, except
the headlights.
2: Turns on the headlights
together with the parking lights,
sidemarker lights, roofmarker lights,
taillights, license plate light, and
instrument panel lights.
When you start the engine in
daytime, with the lighting switch off,
and release the parking brake, the
daytime running lights will come on.
See Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light 069 and
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
0 82.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
128 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 140
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 141
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 144
Emergencies (Troubleshooting) . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Emergencies (Disabled Vehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 156
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Operating Temperature . . . . . . . 162
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Idle Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
High Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Engine Checks Before Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Diesel Particulate Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . 171
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 180
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 196
Selector Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Overdrive Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Exhaust Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuel
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . 218
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . 221
Water in Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Running Out of Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 224
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Power Take-Off (PTO) . . . . . . . . 227
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 131
Pulling Away After Stopping
and Parking
Before pulling away, check that
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle and confirm that
it is safe to pull away.
If you cannot see the area behind
your vehicle well enough to confirm
it is safe to back up, get out of the
vehicle and check behind it.
Make it a habit to look around and
confirm that it is safe to pull away
after a temporary stop (at traffic
lights, for example).
If the Windshield Fogs Up
Use the heater to blow hot air on the
windshield or dehumidify the cabin
using the air conditioner and place
the outlet selector knob in the
5or
4position.
Place the air selector lever in the
outside air position.
Nighttime Visibility
If there is an old film on the
windshield, the lights of oncoming
traffic will be reflected in many directions, making it hard for you to
see ahead. Use glass cleaner to
clean the glass and the wiper
blades.
Worn wiper blades cannot wipe the
windshield clean and thus cannot
maintain visibility. When the wiper
blades become worn, replace them
with new ones.
Do Not Attach Accessories to
the Windshield or Windows
{Warning
Do not attach ornaments, films or
other accessories to the
windshield or windows. They
would impair visibility. Also, any
plastic suction cups used to
attach accessories could cause a
fire or a crash by acting as
lenses.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Never Stop the Engine While
Driving
{Warning
Do not move the engine control
switch away from the "ON"
position while the vehicle is being
driven.
If the engine stops while the
vehicle is moving, the brake
booster does not work, and the
brakes would not work properly.
The engine could also be
damaged.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the power steering
would stop working, making the
steering wheel extremely hard
to turn.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the warning lights,
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 135
time, the amount of force applied to
the brake pedal and the speed of
the vehicle.
When driving, bear the stopping
distance in mind. Maintain a speed
and headway distance that allow
you to stop safely even if a hazard
occurs.
Overriding Accelerator with
Brakes
In the unlikely event the accelerator
pedal becomes stuck, apply the
brakes firmly and steadily to reduce
engine power and bring your vehicle
to a safe stop. Turn the engine off,
move the selector lever to the“P”
(Park) position, and apply the
parking brake. In a safe location,
inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interference and remove the item
causing the interference, if any is
found. If none is found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle
towed to the nearest authorized
dealer.
Braking Techniques
For the most effective braking and
for maximum life from brake system
components, follow these
suggestions when possible:
. Apply the brakes gradually as
road and load conditions permit.
Reduce pedal pressure as
speed drops so that a very light
pressure is used at the end of
the stop.
. Do not pump the brake pedal as
this will only deplete the vacuum
reserve or the hydraulic brake
booster (HBB) accumulator
reserve.
. To get maximum braking while
maintaining vehicle control, use
a "squeeze" braking technique.
Do this by pushing on the brake
pedal with steadily increasing
pressure. If possible, steer
around obstacles when there is
not enough room to stop. Brake System Warning LightCaution
If brake low vacuum warning light
(4500HD, 4500XD models), brake
booster warning light (5500HD,
5500XD models), or brake system
warning light comes on during
operation, have brake system
checked immediately.
Refer to Warning Lights, Gauges,
and Indicators 056.
When the Brakes Do Not Work
{Warning
It is very dangerous to suddenly
pull the parking brake lever all the
way while moving at high speed.
Reduce speed first by shifting
down and then gradually pull the
parking brake lever.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
136 Driving and Operating
The exhaust brake should be turned
on as soon as service brake
malfunction is detected. This will
slow the engine speed. With the
engine speed under control and
providing the grade conditions
permit, the transmission can be
progressively downshifted using the
exhaust brake in each gear.
Eventually the exhaust brake should
slow the vehicle to a controllable
“crawl.”Gradually pull the parking
brake lever while firmly holding on
to the steering wheel. Stop the
vehicle on the side of the road. The
vehicle should not be driven further
until corrective measures are taken.
See Exhaust Brake 0213 and
Parking Brake 0211.
Riding the Brake
{Warning
"Riding the brake" by resting your
foot on the pedal, when you do
not intend to brake, can overheat
the brakes and wear out the (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
brake linings faster. This may also
damage the brakes and will waste
fuel. It can also result in reduced
braking performance.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Applying the Parking Brake
Except in an emergency, do not
apply the parking brake until the
vehicle has come to a complete
stop. Applying the parking brake
before the vehicle has stopped can
cause a breakdown.
Refer toParking Brake 0211.
Parking Safely on a Slope
Avoid parking your vehicle on a
slope as much as possible and
choose a level and flat place. If you
must park your vehicle on a slope,
be sure to set the parking brake
fully. Make sure that the vehicle
does not move, and block the
wheels with chocks for added safety. Also, leave the vehicle in
gear to further ensure that it will not
move. Leave the steering wheel
turned such that the vehicle will be
stopped by an obstruction (for
example, the curb) in the unlikely
event that it moves.
Stopping and Parking with the
Engine Running
{Warning
When parking with the engine
running, first come to a complete
stop, then firmly apply the parking
brake, then move the selector
lever to the "P" (Park) position.
Unless you take these steps, any
unintended pressure on the
accelerator pedal could cause a
crash.
To reduce the chance of personal
injury and/or vehicle damage due
to engine overheating, never
leave the engine idling without an
alert driver present. If the engine
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 137
Warning (Continued)
should overheat, as indicated by
the engine coolant temperature
gauge, immediate action is
required to correct the condition.
Continued operation of the
engine, even for a short time, may
result in a fire. Do not engage the
exhaust brake while the engine is
idling as this may cause engine
overheating.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF)
may automatically start
regeneration when the vehicle is
stopped and parked with the
engine running. To prevent a fire,
make sure there is no flammable
material near the muffler, DPF,
and exhaust pipe. Be careful not
to get burned by hot exhaust
gases.
You and others could be seriously
injured.Do Not Forget to Release the
Parking Brake
Pulling away with the parking brake
still applied can damage the brake
system.
Before pulling away, make sure the
parking brake is not set by checking
that the parking brake indicator light
is not on.
Be Sure to Have the Engine
Running When the Vehicle is
Moving
{Warning
When the engine is not running,
the power steering system does
not work so the steering wheel is
hard to turn. Also, the brake
booster does not work so there is
little braking ability. If you coast
down a slope without the engine
running, you would not be able to
properly control the vehicle and
could have a crash.
Parking, or Leaving
Driver
’s Seat
{Danger
It can be dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the selector lever is
not fully in "P" (Park) or the
parking brake is not applied all
the way. Your vehicle can roll or
move suddenly.
To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are parking
on level ground, follow the steps
below. (If you have to park on a
hill, also turn your front wheels so
the vehicle will roll away from
traffic.)
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed.
1. Hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot and
apply the parking brake all the
way before shifting the
transmission. Follow the
Parking Brake instructions in
this manual for your vehicle.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
138 Driving and Operating
2. To move the selector lever to"P" (Park), hold in the button
on the lever and push the lever
all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Turn the key to "LOCK".
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
5. Before you leave the driver's seat, be sure the vehicle is not
moving, or check that your
vehicle is in Park by trying to
pull the selector lever out of "P"
(Park) by pulling the selector
lever toward you without
pushing the button. If you can
do this, it means that the
selector lever was not fully
locked into "P" (Park).
Do Not Touch the Selector Lever
While the Vehicle is Stationary
with the Engine Idling
Do not touch the selector lever while
the vehicle is stationary with the
engine idling. If you touch the
selector lever at this time, a gear
could be selected and the vehicle
could move even with the parking brake applied. The risk of knocking
against the selector lever and
causing a crash is particularly great
when you move in or out of
your seat.
Driving Down a Long Slope
When driving down a long slope,
use the exhaust brake together with
the foot brake. Using the exhaust
brake and low-gears reduces the
work load on the foot brakes and
yields greater braking force. Even
so, use the foot brakes
appropriately to prevent the engine
over-revving.
Frequent use of the foot brakes can
cause vapor lock and brake fade,
resulting in reduced brake
effectiveness.
Brake Fade :
Frequent use of the
brakes can cause the brakes to
overheat so that the frictional force
of the brake linings decreases and
the brakes become less effective
than normal. This phenomenon is
called brake fade. 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 0213
and
Selector Lever 0205.
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.