CHEVROLET C/K 2003 Owners Manual

2-16 Engine Starter Over-Crank Protection
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an engine starter over-crank
protection system. If the starter motor overheats and
shuts off due to over
-cranking, the motor must cool
down before it will reset and allow starter operation.
It can take up to six minutes before the starter will
work again.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter for
your engine. See ªVehicle Identification Numberº in
the Index. Follow the proper steps to start the engine.
To start a diesel engine, see ªStarting Your Diesel
Engineº in the Index.
Automatic Transmission
Set the parking brake and move your shift lever to
NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P) if so equipped. Your
engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature.
Manual Transmission
Set the parking brake, shift to neutral and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the engine.
Starter Motor Operation

The starter motor will disengage if you release
the key or the engine reaches a predetermined
engine speed.

To prevent overheating, the starter motor will
disengage after continuously operating for
15 seconds. You must release the key from the
start position to re
-engage the starter.

The starter motor will not engage if the engine is
already running.

The starter motor will disengage if, after
two seconds, the starter pinion gear does not
engage the flywheel or there is no engine rpm
signal from the engine speed sensor.

2-17 Starting Your Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
2. If the engine doesn't start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down and crank the
engine for five more seconds, unless it starts sooner.
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Wait 15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down.
Do Steps 1 through 3 again.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and the
accelerator pedal.NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
NOTICE:
If you ever need to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.

2-18 Gasoline Engine Warm-Up
When you've started your engine, let it run for 20 or
30 seconds to warm up before you put a load on
the engine.
Drive at moderate speeds for the first few miles,
especially in cold weather. Running a cold engine at
high speed can damage it. See ªEngine High Idle
Systemº in the Index if your vehicle has this feature.
Restarting the Gasoline Engine While
Moving (Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you'll first have to shift the automatic
transmission to NEUTRAL (N). This safety feature
prevents starting the engine when the transmission is
in a drive gear.
Stopping the Gasoline Engine
Let your engine idle for a few seconds before turning it
off after you have finished driving your vehicle.
If you shift to NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P), set the
parking brake.
If your vehicle has a two
-speed axle, put the range
selector in LOW. To be sure the axle has shifted into
LOW, engage the clutch and transmission; the vehicle
may move slightly when you do this.
While your engine is idling before you turn it off, you
can make a list of any operational or handling concerns
to give to responsible maintenance personnel so they can
handle them right away.
Moisture will condense in a fuel tank that is almost
empty if the engine has not run for a while, even just
overnight under some conditions. So, it's always best to
refuel your vehicle at the end of each run.

2-19
Starting the Diesel Engine
If you have a Caterpillar diesel engine, also refer to your
Caterpillar
Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for starting procedure.
For vehicles with the DURAMAX diesel engine, also
see ªStarting Your DURAMAX Diesel Engineº
following.
To make starting easier in cold weather (below 32F or
0C), the proper viscosity engine oil should be used.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index. It's also best to heat the
engine oil first. You can do this by using an engine
coolant heater.
NOTICE:
If you ever need to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Restarting the Diesel Engine While Moving
(Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you'll first have to shift the automatic
transmission to NEUTRAL (N). This safety feature
prevents starting the engine when the transmission is
in a drive gear.
Stopping the Diesel Engine
If you have a Caterpillar diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar
Diesel Engine Operation &
Maintenance Manual.
1. Set the parking brake and shift to NEUTRAL (N)
or PARK (P).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
If your vehicle has a two
-speed axle, see ªRear Axle,
Tw o
-Speed Electric Shift Controlº or ªRear Axle,
Tw o
-Speed Airshift Controlº in the Index.

2-20 Cold Weather Starting
(Caterpillar

Diesel)
Because the diesel engine uses compression ignition, it
is harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline engine.
The air intake heater and use of the proper engine oil,
optional engine coolant heaters and optional ether
injection systems help cold weather starting. See the
Caterpillar

Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for more information.
NOTICE:
Your diesel engine has an electric air intake
heater system which reduces white smoke and
helps start the engine in cold weather. Do not
spray starting fluid into the air intake where it
can contact the heater elements.
If you don't have the GM Automatic Ether
Injection System, don't use starting fluid or you
could damage your engine. If you have the GM
system, use only GM approved starting fluid that
has been tested to establish compatibility with the
air inlet heater system.
Diesel Engine Warm-Up
Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
warms up. These can include outside temperature,
engine load, idle time and your vehicle's option content.
Your vehicle may be equipped with some features that
can help the engine reach operating temperature sooner.
Some of these features are discussed below.
Also, remember that an automatic transmission adds
heat to the cooling system through the heat exchanger in
the radiator. Because of this, vehicles equipped with
automatic transmissions are often able to retain engine
coolant heat better than manual transmission vehicles.
See your Caterpillar

Operation & Maintenance manual
for additional diesel engine warm
-up information.

2-21 Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown
(If Equipped)
Your check gages light will come on if the system senses
high engine temperature or low engine oil pressure. If high
engine temperature or low engine oil pressure is detected,
you will also hear a tone alarm at two beats per second.
The alarm and the light will remain on until the condition
is fixed. If the engine temperature or oil pressure condition
worsens, the tone alarm will go to five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light will
come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in approximately 25
-30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. See ªAutomatic Engine
Shutdown Lightº later in this section.
Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Don't start it
until the reason for the problem is known, and the
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the engine and get another
25
-30 seconds of operation. Do this only if you have to,
since there is a problem that can harm the engine if it
isn't fixed. Engine automatic shutdown, for gasoline
engines, requires activation by your dealer.
High Idle System (Caterpillar
Diesel
and Gasoline Engines)
Your vehicle has both automatic and manual high idle
capabilities.
Automatic High Idle System (Diesel Engines)
(If Equipped)
The automatic high idle feature will engage whenever
you start your vehicle and the engine is below the preset
operating temperature. This will help decrease engine
warm
-up time.
Idle speed will then return to normal under any of the
following conditions:

The engine reaches the preset operating temperature
or has been operating for at least ten minutes.

The brake pedal is pressed.

The manual transmission clutch pedal is pressed or,
the automatic transmission (if equipped) is shifted
from NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).

The vehicle speed exceeds approximately
5 mph (8 km/h).

The throttle is pressed.

2-22
If your vehicle has this

2-23 Exhaust Restrictor (Diesel Engines)
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, there is an
exhaust restrictor valve located in the exhaust stream.
The valve closes to provide back pressure to the engine
for the purpose of warming the engine quickly.
The exhaust restrictor operates:

while the engine is running.

while the vehicle is not moving.

while the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals are
not pressed.

while idling or driving in cold temperatures.

when the shift lever is in NEUTRAL (N)
or PARK (P).On vehicles equipped with a diesel engine exhaust
brake, the exhaust brake switch must be on. The
indicator in the exhaust brake switch will be lit when the
exhaust restrictor is active. The exhaust brake indicator
light in the center of the instrument panel will also be lit
whenever the exhaust restrictor is active.
When the engine coolant temperature is below 149F
(65C) and the outside temperature is below 50F
(10C), the exhaust restrictor will come on within
45 seconds of starting the engine. After running the
engine for an additional 45 seconds, the engine idle
will increase.
The exhaust restrictor will shut off and engine idle will
return to normal once the engine is warmed up, or the
transmission is shifted into range.

2-24
Starting Your DURAMAX

Diesel Engine
Your diesel engine starts differently than a
gasoline engine.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's
a safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
Move your shift lever to neutral and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the engine. Your vehicle
won't start if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that's a safety feature.
Starting Your Engine
1. Turn your ignition key to RUN.
Observe the wait to start light. See ªWait To Start
Lightº in the Index. (This light may not come on
if the engine is hot.)
2. As soon as the wait to start light goes off,
IMMEDIATELY turn the ignition key to START.
When the engine starts, let go of the key.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.

2-25
NOTICE:
If the wait to start light stays on, it means that
your vehicle could have one of several problems,
so you should have it serviced right away.
3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds of
cranking, turn the ignition key to OFF. Wait
one minute for the starter to cool, then try the
same steps again.
If you're trying to start your engine after you've run
out of fuel, follow the steps in ªRunning Out of Fuel.º
See ªDiesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel Systemº in
the Index.
When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes
before you move your vehicle. This lets oil pressure
build up. Your engine will sound louder when it's cold.
NOTICE:
If you're not in an idling vehicle and the engine
overheats, you wouldn't be there to see the
overheated engine condition. This could damage
your vehicle. Don't let your engine run when
you're not in your vehicle.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)
The following tips will help you get good starting in
cold weather.
Use the recommended engine oil when the outside
temperature drops below freezing. See ªEngine Oilº in
the Index. When the outside temperature drops below
0
F (
-18
C), use of the engine coolant heater is
recommended.
If you experience longer cranking times, notice an
unusual amount of exhaust smoke or are at higher
altitudes (over 7,000 ft. or 2 135 m), you may use your
engine coolant heater. See ªEngine Coolant Heaterº in
the Index.
See ªDiesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel Systemº in the
Index for information on what fuel to use in cold weather.