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182 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
cause loss of control and a crash.
Overloading can also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Caution
Overloading the vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not overload the
vehicle.
Using heavier suspension components
to get added durability might not
change the weight ratings. Ask your
dealer to help load the vehicle the
right way.
{Warning
Things you put inside the vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden
stop or turn, or in a crash.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Put things in the cargo area of the
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
.Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so
that some of them are above the
tops of the seats.
.Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in the vehicle.
.When you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can.
.Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.
There is also important loading
information for off-road driving in this
manual. See “Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving“ underOff-Road
Driving 0172. Two-Tiered Loading
Depending on the model of the pickup,
an upper load platform can be created
by positioning three or four 5 cm (2 in)
by 15 cm (6 in) wooden planks across
the width of the pickup box. The planks
must be inserted in the pickup box
depressions.
When using this upper load platform,
be sure the load is securely tied down
to prevent it from shifting. The load's
center of gravity should be positioned
in a zone over the rear axle. The zone is
located in the area between the front
of each wheel well and the rear of each
wheel well. The center of gravity height
must not extend above the top of the
pickup box flareboard.
Any load that extends beyond the
vehicle's taillamp area must be properly
marked according to local laws and
regulations.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) of the front or
rear axle.
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Driving and Operating 185
4. Push the key all the way in toward thesteering column, then turn the key to
LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key.
6. Release the brake pedal.
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)
0 188.
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.{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, turn off the
vehicle only in an emergency.
In an emergency, if the vehicle cannot be
pulled over and must be turned off while
driving: 1. Push the key all the way in toward the steering column, then turn the key to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
2. Brake using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
3. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving.
Continue braking and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
4. Come to a complete stop.
5. Shift to P (Park).
6. Push the key all the way in toward the steering column (1), then turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF (2). 7. Set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake
0 201.
8. Remove the key.
9. Release the brake pedal.
Caution
Use the correct key, make sure it is all
the way in —or pushed all the way in
toward the steering column when turning
off the vehicle —and turn it only with
your hand.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This position allows
features such as the infotainment system to
operate while the vehicle is off. It also
unlocks the steering column, if equipped
with a locking steering column. Use this
position if the vehicle must be pushed or
towed. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
0 188.
From ON/RUN, push the key all the way in
toward the steering column, then turn the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY.
If the key is left in ACC/ACCESSORY with the
engine off, the battery could drain and the
vehicle may not start.
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188 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges. Never close the hood on the
heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord, reattach the cover to the plug,
and securely fasten the cord. Keep the
cord away from any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was
before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
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, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0219. 1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the
parking brake.
See Parking Brake 0201.
2. Hold the button on the shift lever and push the lever toward the front of the
vehicle into P (Park).
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)
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Driving and Operating 189
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 pressing the button on the shift
lever. If you can, it means that the shift
lever was not fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not
shift the transmission into P (Park) properly,
the weight of the vehicle may put too much
force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull
the shift lever out of P (Park). This is called
torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver seat. To
find out how, see
Shifting Into Park0188.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of P (Park) before you release
the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to
have another vehicle push yours a little
uphill to take some of the pressure from the
parking pawl in the transmission. You will
then be able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic
shift lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal unless the
shift lever is in P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shift lever out
of P (Park), unless the ignition is on and
the regular brake pedal is applied.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the button on the shift lever. 3. Move the shift lever to the desired
position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park): 1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal and pressing the shift lever button, move the
shift lever all the way into P (Park).
3. While holding the shift lever button, move the shift lever to the desired
position.
If you are still having a problem shifting,
then have the vehicle serviced soon.
This vehicle may have the Seat Belt
Assurance System, which may prevent the
vehicle from shifting out of P (Park). See
Seat Belts 027.
Parking over Things That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under the vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves,
dry grass, or other things that can burn.
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Driving and Operating 191
P :This position locks the drive wheels. Use
P (Park) when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily. When
parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle
has a heavy load, you might notice an
increase in the effort to shift out of P (Park).
See “Torque Lock” underShifting Into Park
0 188.
{Warning
It is 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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. 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,
always set the parking brake and move
the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting
Into Park 0188 and
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 219.
{Warning
If you have four-wheel drive, the vehicle
will be free to roll —even if the shift
lever is in P (Park) —if the transfer case
is in N (Neutral). So, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park 0188.
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
0 177.
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.
{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.
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194 Driving and Operating
6-Speed Automatic TransmissionGear before shifting from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after shifting from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) L4 L4 L3 L2 L2 L1
8-Speed Automatic Transmission Gear before shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul not engaged L6 L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L2 L1
Range after shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul engaged L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L3 L2 L1
Grade Braking is not available when Range
Selection Mode is active. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0194.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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.
Low Traction Mode
If equipped, Low Traction Mode assists in
vehicle acceleration when road conditions
are slippery, such as with ice or snow. While
the vehicle is at a stop, select L2 using
Range Selection Mode. This will limit torque
to the wheels and help to prevent the tires
from spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
If equipped, Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern to reduce shift
cycling. While towing heavy loads, this
mode provides increased performance and
vehicle control.
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Driving and Operating 195
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and off by
pressing the button on the center stack.
When the Tow/Haul Mode is enabled, a
light on the instrument cluster will come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Light 090 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0176.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing
Equipment 0228.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, the Tow/
Haul button activates the exhaust brake
system simultaneously. See “Exhaust Brake”
in the Duramax diesel supplement.
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive engages the
front axle for extra traction.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in
4
m, or 4nfor an extended period of
time. These conditions may cause:
.Overheating.
.Oil leakage.
.Damage to internal and external
components of the front axle.
.Premature wear on the vehicle’s
powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in 4
mor
4
nmay:
.Cause a vibration to be felt in the
steering system.
.Cause tires to wear faster.
.Cause additional driveline noise.
{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,
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or 4n— or set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral).
See Shifting Into Park 0188.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in 4n
may 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.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction Control
and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) off. See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0202.
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196 Driving and Operating
Electronic Transfer Case
Use the transfer case shift knob, next to the
steering wheel, to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive for extra traction.
All of the lights will flash on then off
momentarily when the ignition is turned on.
The light that remains on will indicate the
state of the transfer case.
If the indicator mark on the shift knob does
not match up with the light then that likely
means the knob was moved when the
ignition was off.
The indicator mark on the shift knob must
line up with the indicator light before a shift
can be commanded. To command a shift
rotate the transfer case shift knob to thenew desired position. The light will flash
meaning that the shift is in progress. When
the shift is completed the new position will
be illuminated. If the transfer case cannot
complete a shift command, it will go back to
its last chosen setting.
In extreme cold weather it may be
necessary to slow or stop the vehicle to
shift from 2
mto 4m.
Delayed shifts from 4
mto 2mmay be
experienced due to uneven tire wear, low
tire pressure, high vehicle loading, or cold
temperatures.
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has
stopped flashing could damage the
transfer case.
The settings are:
N (Neutral) : Use only when the vehicle
needs to be towed. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing 0301 or
Towing the Vehicle 0300. 2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) :
Use 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
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).
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction Control
and StabiliTrak/ESC off. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0202.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use when
extra traction is needed. The front axle
engages and helps when driving on snowy
or icy roads, and when off-roading. The
vehicle can be shifted from 2
mto 4mwhile
the vehicle is moving.
Shifting Into 4
m
Turn the knob to 4mat any speed up to
121 km/h (75 mph), except from 4
n. The
indicator light will flash while shifting and
will remain on the selected setting.