
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
210 Driving and Operating
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer the
vehicle so that it straddles the edge of
the pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three control
systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
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.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
234 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
transmission fluid. This message clears
when the transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy. If more
power is needed for passing, press the
accelerator pedal down.
.When going less than about 55 km/h (35
mph), push the accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
.When going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all the
way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to
the next gear and has more power.
Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode when
towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or driving off-road.
Shift the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery
road conditions could result in skidding. See
“Skidding” underLoss of Control 0210. The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature
that adjusts the transmission shifting to the
current driving conditions in order to reduce
rapid upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an upshift, if the
engine is able to maintain vehicle speed by
analyzing things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load. If the
shift stabilization feature determines that a
current vehicle speed cannot be maintained,
the transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear. In some
cases, this could appear to be a delayed
shift, however the transmission is operating
normally.
The transmission uses adaptive shift
controls. The adaptive shift control process
continually compares key shift parameters
to pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the
transmission’s computer. The transmission
constantly makes adjustments to improve
vehicle performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with a heavy
load or when the temperature changes.
During this adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best settings. When temperatures are very cold, the
transmission's gear shifting could be delayed
providing more stable shifts until the engine
warms up. Shifts could be more noticeable
with a cold transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal.
L :
This position allows selection of a range
of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. If equipped, see “Range Selection
Mode” underManual Mode 0235.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If the
vehicle is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
240 Driving and Operating
The actual 4x4 shift request is only made
after the button is released. The 4x4 graphic
will remain flashing until the shift request
has completed.
A DIC message displays. Once the 4x4 shift
has completed, the DIC message disappears,
the 4x4 graphic stops flashing, and the
current setting is indicated.
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when the
vehicle is first driven. A momentary motor
or clicking noise may be heard while this
test is going on, and the brake pedal may
move slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. SeeAntilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 0114.
ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing or feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. See Electric Parking Brake
Light 0113 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 0113.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Vehicle Care 355
Warning (Continued)
traction device if it is contacting the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install them
on the rear tires.
Caution
Use tire chains only where legal and only
when necessary. Use chains that are the
proper size for the tires. If the vehicle has
LT235/80R17 size tires, install the chains
on the tires of the rear axle only. If the
vehicle has LT245/75R17, LT265/70R17,
or LT275/70R18 size tires, install the
chains on the tires of the front and rear
axle. Tighten them as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened. Drive
slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions. If the chains
contact the vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If the contact continues, slow
down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will
damage the vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while
driving, especially if the tires are maintained
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if there
ever is a blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing
the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten
the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been driven
on while severely underinflated or flat(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
may cause a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat. Have your dealer or
an authorized tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a level
place, well off the road, if possible. Turn on
the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers 0137.