2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 ignition

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
340 Vehicle Care
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid message
on the DIC that comes on when the washer
fluid is low. The message is displayed for
15 seconds at the start of each ignition cycle.
When the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will need to
be added to the windshield washer fluid
reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview0324 for
reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound means
that soon the brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash. When the
brake wear warning sound is heard, have
the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
linings could result in costly brake
repairs.
Some driving conditions or climates can
cause a brake squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up following several
applications. This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary
to help prevent brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect brake linings for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the proper
sequence to torque specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications 0424.
Brake pads should be replaced as complete
axle sets.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 341
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance can
change in many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Pad Life System
When to Change Brake Pads
This vehicle has a system that estimates the
remaining life of the front and rear brake
pads. Brake pad life is displayed in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), along with
a percentage for each axle. The system must
be reset every time the brake pads are
changed.
When the system has determined that the
brake pads need to be replaced, a message
will display, which may include mileage
remaining.Brake pads should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
How to Reset the Brake Pad Life System
The system will automatically detect when
significantly worn brake pads are replaced.
When the ignition is turned on after new
pads and wear sensors are installed, a
message will display. Follow the prompts to
reset the system.
The brake pad life system can also be
manually reset:
1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0125.
2. Press the thumbwheel or the trip odometer reset stem if the vehicle does
not have DIC buttons. Select front or rear
pads as appropriate.
3. Select YES on the confirmation message, or press the trip odometer reset stem on
a base level DIC. Repeat for pads on the
other axle if they were also replaced.
How to Disable the Brake Pad Life
System
The brake pad life system can be turned off.
This may be necessary if aftermarket brake
pads without wear sensors are installed.
When the system is turned off, the front
and rear brake pad life percentages will not
display. However, the built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn can
still determine when the pads should be
replaced. See Brakes0340.
To turn off the brake pad life system: 1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0125.
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system back on,
follow the above steps but select ENABLE in
Step 2.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 343
Stop/Start System
Vehicles equipped with a 2.7L L3B, 3.0L LM2,
5.3L L84 or 6.2L L87 are equipped with a
Stop/Start system to shut off the engine to
help conserve fuel. SeeStop/Start System
0 233.
Vehicles with the Stop/Start system have an
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt battery.
Installation of a standard 12-volt battery will
result in reduced 12-volt battery life. When
using a 12-volt battery charger on the 12-volt
AGM battery, some chargers have an AGM
battery setting on the charger. If available,
use the AGM setting on the charger to limit
charge voltage to 14.8 volts. Follow the
charger manufacturer’s instructions.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0321
and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. See Jump
Starting - North America 0391 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to keep
the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
Negative Battery Cable Disconnection
{Warning
Before disconnecting the negative battery
cable, turn off all features, turn the
ignition off, and remove the key,
if equipped, from the vehicle. If this is
not done, you or others could be injured,
and the vehicle could be damaged.
Caution
If the battery is disconnected with the
ignition on or the vehicle in Retained
Accessory Power (RAP), the OnStar
back-up battery will be permanently
discharged and will need to be replaced.
1. Make sure the lamps, features, and accessories are turned off.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key, if equipped.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 345
3. Turn the ignition on.
For vehicles not equipped with the Stop/
Start system: 1. Install the negative battery cable clamp to the negative battery post.
2. Tighten the negative battery cable nut.
3. Turn the ignition on.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to Maintenance Schedule 0409 to
determine when to check the lubricant.
1. Fill Plug
2. Drain Plug
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle
should be on a level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the fill
plug (1) hole, located on the transfer case,
some lubricant will need to be added. Add
enough lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the fill plug (1) hole. Use care not
to overtighten the plug.
When to Change Lubricant
Refer to Maintenance Schedule 0409 to
determine how often to change the
lubricant.
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0 418 to determine what kind of lubricant
to use.
Front Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check the
front axle fluid unless a leak is suspected or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it inspected and
repaired. This service can be complex. See
your dealer. Do not directly power wash the transfer
case and/or front/rear axle output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the fluid. Contaminated
fluid will decrease the life of the transfer
case and/or drive axles and should be
replaced.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check the
rear axle fluid unless a leak is suspected or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it inspected and
repaired. This service can be complex. See
your dealer.
Do not directly power wash the transfer
case and/or front/rear axle output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the fluid. Contaminated
fluid will decrease the life of the transfer
case and/or drive axles and should be
replaced.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
346 Vehicle Care
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the
vehicle moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room around the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to turn off the engine immediately
if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start only in P (Park) or
N (Neutral). If the vehicle starts in any
other position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check
{Warning
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the
vehicle moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room around the vehicle.
It should be parked on a level surface.
2. Apply the parking brake. Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition on, but do not start the engine. Without
applying the regular brake, try to move
the shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever moves
out of P (Park), contact your dealer for
service.
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
If equipped with Key Access ignition, while
parked, and with the parking brake set, try
to turn the ignition off in each shift lever
position. The ignition should turn to off only
when the shift lever is in P (Park).
The ignition key should come out only when
the ignition is off. Contact your dealer if
service is required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and property
could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it
begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle
facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 355
FusesUsage
6 –
7 –
8 Fog lamp
9 –
10 –
11 Police upfitter
12 –
13 Washer front
14 Washer rear 15 –
16 –
17 IECL 1
19 DC/AC inverter
20 IECR 2 (LD) / EBCM2 (HD)
21 –
22 IECL 2
24 EBCM 1 25 –
26 – Fuses
Usage
27 Horn
28 –
29 –
30 –
31 –
32 Rear window defogger
33 Heated mirror
34 Parking lamp left 37 –
38 –
39 –
40 Misc ignition 41 Trailer parking lamp
42 Park lamp right
44 –
45 –
46 Engine control module ignition
47 Transmission control module ignition Fuses
Usage
48 –
49 Transmission control module
50 A/C clutch 51 Transfer case control module
52 Front wiper
53 Center high-mounted stop lamp
54 Trailer reverse lamp 55 Trailer back-up lamp
56 SADS 57 TTPM/SBZA
58 Starter motor (LD & HD DSL)
60 Active fuel management 1
61 VES
62 Integrated chassis control module/CVS
63 Trailer battery

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
360 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F22 Heated steering wheel
F23 MISC R/C
F24 Instrument panel cluster ignition/Overhead
F25 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ignition/
Heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning auxiliary
F26 USB ports/Special equipment option retained
accessory power
F27 Accessory power outlet/ retained accessory power
F28 Accessory power outlet/ Battery
F30 Sensing and diagnostic module/Parking brake
F31 Body control module 4
F32 Special equipment option/ Data link connection
F33 Body control module 8
F34 Cargo lamp
F40 CGM Fuses
Usage
F41 Infotainment 1
F42 TCP
F43 –
F44 Active vibration management
F45 Body control module 2
F46 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning/Battery 1
F47 Instrument panel cluster/ Battery
F48 Transmission control module
F49 Body control module 1 F50 –
F51 Battery 1
F52 Battery 2
F53 –
F54 Sunroof F55 Driver power seat
F56 DC DC TRANS 1 F57 DC DC TRANS 2 Fuses
Usage
F58 Infotainment 2
Circuit
Breakers Usage
1 Accessory power outlet 2
2 Accessory power outlet 1/ Cigarette Lighter
3 Accessory power outlet 3
4 Accessory power outlet 4
Relays Usage
K1 Run/Crank
K2 Retained accessory power/ Accessory 1
K4 Retained accessory power/ Accessory 2
K5 –

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico/Paraguay-14632303) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 369
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for
a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement
or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0369.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0436.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). The TPMS is
designed to warn the driver when a low tire
pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire and
wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in the tires and transmit the
tire pressure readings to a receiver located
in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is
detected, the TPMS illuminates the low tire
pressure warning light located on the
instrument cluster. If the warning light
comes on, stop as soon as possible and
inflate the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 222.
A message to check the pressure in a
specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC warning
message come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inflated to the correct
inflation pressure. If the vehicle has DIC
buttons, tire pressure levels can be viewed.