tow CHEVROLET KODIAK 2008 Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
..............................................1-10
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-28
Airbag System
.........................................1-48
Restraint System Check
............................1-60
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-6
Windows
.................................................. 2-8
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-10
Mirrors
....................................................2-51
Storage Areas
.........................................2-53
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-24
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-47
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-24Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-4
Fuel
......................................................... 5-7
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-22
Rear Axle
...............................................5-72
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-73
Front Axle
...............................................5-74
Noise Control System
...............................5-75
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-76
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-76
Other Service Items
..................................5-78
Tires
......................................................5-82
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identification
...............................5-101
Electrical System
....................................5-102
Capacities and Specifications
...................5-109
Maintenance Replacement Parts
...............5-115
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2008 Chevrolet Kodiak Owner ManualM

Split Bench Seat (80/20 Split)
If your vehicle has a split bench seat, the passenger
seat is not adjustable.
There is a storage area underneath the seat cushion.
SeeStorage Areas on page 2-53.
Air Suspension Seats
Your vehicle may have a low-back or high-back air
suspension seat. There are several ways to adjust
the seat.
Fore-and-Aft Adjustment
If your vehicle has this
lever it is located
underneath the front of the
driver’s seat.
To slide the seat forward or rearward, move the lever
toward the outboard side of the seat. The seat will lock
in at 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) increments. Try to move the
seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked
in place.
1-6

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Folding the Rear Seat (Crew Cab)
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
Notice:Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
The rear bench seat on the crew cab can be folded
down to provide more cargo space.To fold down the seatback,
pull this nylon strap
located on the rear of the
seat, while pulling the
seatback down.
To raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising
the seatback until it locks upright.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked in place.
1-10

How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-52for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After a frontal airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so
quickly that some people may not even realize
the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag
module may be hot for several minutes. For location of
the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-53.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent
the driver from seeing out of the windshield or being
able to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from
leaving the vehicle.
1-54

Power Windows
If your vehicle has power windows, the switches for all
windows are located on the driver’s door. In addition,
each passenger door has a switch for their own window.
Press the rearward part of the switch to lower the window.
Press the forward part of the switch to raise the window.
The power windows will operate when the ignition is in
ACCESSORY or RUN.
Express-Down
The driver’s window has an express-down feature.
This allows the window to be lowered fully without
continuously holding the switch. Press the switch down
fully to initiate the express-down feature. Press the
top of the switch to stop the window from lowering.
Window Lockout (Crew Cab)
o
(Window Lockout):The driver’s window switches
include a lockout feature. This prevents the passenger’s
from operating their windows. The driver can still
operate all windows with the lockout on. Press the
button to turn the lockout feature on and off.
Sliding Rear Window
To open the sliding rear window, pull the latch toward
the driver’s side of the vehicle.
To close the window, slide the window toward the
passenger’s side of the vehicle. The latch will
automatically lock into place. Try to open the window
without releasing the latch to be sure the window
is in the locked position.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them out to block glare from the side. Regular Cab Switches
Crew Cab Switches
2-9

Ignition Positions
With your key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to
five different positions.
A (ACC/ACCESSORY):This position allows you to use
things like the radio, power windows and the windshield
wipers when the engine is off. To get into ACCESSORY,
push in the key and turn it toward you. Your steering
wheel will remain locked, just as it was before you
inserted the key.
B (LOCK):This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK.C (OFF):This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It does not lock the
steering wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have
your vehicle in motion while the engine is off.
D (ON/RUN):This is the position for driving.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ACCESSORY or RUN position with the engine off.
You may not be able to start your vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended period of time.
E (START):This position starts your engine.
Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an
easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the
key in the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime
will sound, when you open the driver’s door. Always
remember to remove your key from the ignition and take
it with you. This will lock your ignition and transaxle.
Also, always remember to lock the doors.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be
able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an
extended period of time.
2-11

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 does not 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 will not 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:The 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/retailer. If you do not, your
engine might not perform properly. Any resulting
damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranty.
If you ever need to have your vehicle towed, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-24.
Gasoline Engine Warm-Up
When you have 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 2 to 3 miles
(3.2 to 4.8 km), especially in cold weather. SeeHigh
Idle System on page 2-20.
Restarting the Gasoline Engine While
Moving (Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you will first have to shift 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.
2-13

Overdrive Defeat
If your vehicle has this feature, you can select not to
shift up to fifth gear. This is useful when towing or under
a heavy load.
The overdrive defeat
switch is located in the
instrument panel to
the right of the steering
column.
Press the switch to limit the transmission to fourth gear.
This will allow for fewer downshifts while pulling a
trailer or under a heavy load. The indicator light in the
switch comes on whenever overdrive defeat is active.
Manual Transmission Operation
Using the Clutch
When you are starting to move the vehicle, it is important
to begin with the engine speed at idle. Then start to
engage the clutch and listen for an engine speed drop of
about 100 rpm. At this point, the clutch is engaging, so
you should increase the engine speed and fully engagethe clutch. It is important not to increase the engine speed
sooner or before the clutch begins its engagement. If you
do, you can cause damage to your vehicle.
Double-Clutching
You must use the double-clutching method when you
shift an unsynchronized gear set. Disengage the clutch,
shift to NEUTRAL and engage the clutch. When
upshifting, slow the engine until the engine rpm and
road speed match. When downshifting, accelerate the
engine until the engine rpm and road speed match. Then
quickly disengage the clutch and move the shift lever
to the next gear position and engage the clutch.
Eaton®Fuller®Five and Six-Speed
Transmissions and TTC Spicer
Seven-Speed Transmissions
These transmissions have gears that automatically
synchronize when you shift up or down (except
FIRST (1) gear on the five-speed and seven-speed
transmission which is unsynchronized). Choose the gear
that will maintain the road speed you want while
keeping the engine above two-thirds of the governed
speed. When the engine speed drops below two-thirds
of the governed speed, shift into the next lower gear
before your engine begins to lug. When you shift down,
be sure to double-clutch if required.
2-30

Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2m4m4nN
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-24for further
information.
2
m(Two-Wheel High):This setting is for driving in
most street and highway situations. The transfer
case does not drive the front axle in two-wheel drive.
The front-axle spins if the front wheel hubs are locked.
Be sure to unlock the hubs to achieve the best fuel
economy.4
m(Four-Wheel High):Use Four-Wheel High when
you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy
roads or in most off-road situations. Be sure the front
wheel hubs are locked when you want to drive in
Four-Wheel High.
4
n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting sends maximum
power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel
Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, and climbing or descending steep hills. Be sure
the front wheel hubs are locked when you want to drive
in Four-Wheel Low.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be injured. If you are going to leave
your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift
the transmission to PARK (P) and make sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear.
2-34

Notice:If your vehicle has an Allison®transmission
and you try to put the transmission in PARK (P)
while the transfer case is in Four-Wheel Low,
the transmission might not go into PARK (P) and
could damage your vehicle. When parking your
vehicle, make sure the transfer case is in Two-Wheel
High or Four-Wheel High.
NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel High
Turn the knob to four-wheel high. This can be done at
3 mph or less, while you are shifting out of Four-Wheel
Low. The indicator light flashes while shifting. It
remains on after the shift is complete. Be sure to lock
your front hubs.
Shifting Into Two-Wheel High
Turn the knob to Two-Wheel High. This can be done
at 3 mph or less, while you are shifting out of
Four-Wheel Low.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Low
To shift to Four-Wheel Low, the vehicle’s engine must
be running and the vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting
into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 or 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to
Four-Wheel Low. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light to stop flashing and remain on before
shifting the transmission into gear. Be sure to lock the
front hubs.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
If you turn the knob to Four-Wheel Low while your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light flashes for 30 seconds and does not
complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less
than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds, the transfer case
returns to the setting last chosen. If your vehicle is in
gear and moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h), the
transfer case shifts to Four-Wheel High.
2-35