transmission CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD 2019 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 171
3. Always refuel at the end of aday's operation. Moisture will
condense in an empty tank;
therefore, the tank should be
filled before leaving the vehicle
standing for an extended
period.
Do not use starting aids in the air
intake system. Such aids can cause
immediate engine damage. See
Fuel for Diesel Engines 0227.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the engine, take the
following steps: 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Move the selector lever to the P position and make sure that
the shift indicator shows P.
4. Allow the engine to idle for approximately 3 minutes.
5. Turn the engine control switch to the ACC or LOCK position. Do not shut down the engine
immediately after driving the vehicle.
Otherwise, a seizure or other
failures may result.
To prevent the battery from going
dead, turn the engine control switch
to the ACC or LOCK position after
stopping the engine. If you leave the
vehicle for an extended period of
time, place the engine control switch
in the LOCK position.
Let the engine idle for 3 minutes
before shutting off the engine. This
allows the turbocharger to slow
down while keeping the bearings
lubricated.
If the Vehicle Has Not Been Used
for a Long Period
If a diesel vehicle has been
standing for an extended period of
time, the turbocharger bearings
should be pre-lubricated prior to
starting. See your authorized dealer
for more detailed information.
Before using a vehicle that has not
been driven for a long period, check
the engine and transmission for oil
leakage, and make sure the oil is at the required levels. If there is
insufficient oil, it will not adequately
reach and lubricate components,
and a breakdown will result.
Start the engine and allow it to idle
for at least five minutes. Check for
abnormal noises.
For instructions on warming up the
engine, refer to
“Starting the Engine”
previously in this section.
If one year has passed since the
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in the
DEF tank was added, the DEF in
the tank should be replaced. Be
careful not to inhale the ammonia
odor when replacing the DEF. Also,
please contact your nearest dealer
about the replacement work.
Operating Temperature
Recommendations for Warming
Up the Engine
The engine is sufficiently warmed
up when the needle of the engine
coolant temperature gauge starts
to move.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
174 Driving and Operating
Idle Shutdown
Idle Stop is a dealer programmable
function which will automatically turn
off the engine, at idle, when specific
programmed conditions are met.
See your dealer for details. When
the Idle Stop light comes on, it alerts
you that programmed conditions
have been met and the engine is
about to shut down. This light stays
on after the engine has stopped.
This indicator light will come on
when the engine control switch is
turned to the ON position and then
should go out after approximately
3 seconds.
If the idling stop function does not
initiate, a transmission related
problem may have occurred. Please
contact your dealer. (There is a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that
inhibits the idling stop function when
the Service Transmission Warning
Light is not illuminated).
High Idle System
Use high idle mode to increase
engine idle speed to 1,200 r/min
when the vehicle is stationary.
Activating High Idle Mode
Follow the below procedure to
activate the high idle mode:1. Set the parking brake.
2. Set the selector lever in P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
3. Do not press the brake pedal.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 205
When the exhaust system warning
light comes on, promptly have the
vehicle inspected and serviced at a
dealer.
When a malfunction is detected in
the SCR system, the warning and
the indicator lights shown in the
table come on. SeeVehicle
Messages 086, Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 073, and Diesel Exhaust
Fluid (DEF) Warning Light 080.
When the Diesel Exhaust Fluid
(DEF) Tank is Empty
If the DEF tank is empty and
warning and indicator lights are on,
you must follow below procedure to
cancel the vehicle restriction: 1. Turn the engine control switch to the LOCK or ACC position,
and add DEF.
2. After adding DEF, turn the engine control switch to ON
position.
3. Wait until buzzer stops, warnings and indicators are
turned off. 4. If the buzzer does not stop,
return the engine control switch
back to the LOCK position and
add more DEF, and then start
over from step 2 above.
5. Restart the engine.
It may take a while until the warning
lights and indicators turn off and the
buzzer stops after turning the
engine control switch to the ON
position.
It is desirable to fill up the tank with
DEF to avoid DEF remaining level
warning indication from reappearing.
When the outside temperature is
low, refer to Adding DEF in Cold
Weather. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 082, Brake System
Warning Light (Parking Brake Light)
0 74, Warning Buzzers 091, and
Winter Driving 0151.Automatic
Transmission
On an automatic transmission
vehicle, the driver does not use a
clutch pedal when pulling away,
changing gears, or stopping. Only
the selector lever, accelerator pedal,
and brake pedal are used.
Practice learning the characteristics
of the automatic transmission
vehicle and how to correctly operate
it. When the vehicle is stationary,
remember to keep the brake pedal
firmly pressed, and if necessary,
move the selector lever in the P or
N position and apply the parking
brake.
Creep : With the engine running
and a gear position other than P or
N selected with the selector lever,
power reaches the wheels even
when the accelerator pedal is not
pressed, causing the vehicle to tend
to move.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
206 Driving and Operating
Furthermore, the higher the engine
speed, the stronger the creep and
the greater the vehicle's tendency
to move.
Starting
Start the engine in either the P or
the N position. The engine should
not start in any other selector
position. If it does, something is
wrong. Have your truck checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
Always apply either the foot brake
or the parking brake before shifting
into any driving position. This will
prevent creeping.
The engine should be running at
idle when shifting from P or N to one
of the driving positions. See
Selector Lever0214.
Caution
Do not apply water from a
high-pressure washer nozzle
directly to the electric connectors.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
Failure to observe this precaution
can lead to faulty operation of the
electrical system.
Caution
Never move the selector into the
P position when the vehicle is in
motion. This will damage the
automatic transmission.
Firmly press the brake pedal to
prevent the vehicle from moving
even if it is stopped on a level road,
and move the selector lever into P
and firmly apply the parking brake
as needed.
The engine speed rises and
creeping will be stronger than usual
during the conditions noted below.
Keep the brake pedal firmly
pressed:
. Immediately after engine
start up. .
While the air conditioner is
running.
. During the diesel particulate filter
(DPF) regeneration.
How to Use the Automatic
Transmission
{Warning
Before starting the engine, move
the selector lever into P or N (P is
preferred), make sure the shift
indicator indicates P or N, pull up
the parking brake lever and firmly
press the brake pedal.
When moving the selector lever to
any position other than P, be sure
to press the brake pedal.
Never leave the driver's seat with
the selector lever placed in D, 2,
1 or R. The vehicle may start
moving. When leaving the driver's
seat, be sure to move the selector
lever into P and securely set the
parking brake. (Continued)

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 207
Warning (Continued)
When you move the selector lever
into D, 2, 1 or R, creep will cause
the vehicle to move.
When pulling away from a
standstill, you must control the
speed using only the accelerator
pedal. Operate the accelerator
pedal carefully.
Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. The vehicle may make a
sudden start, possibly causing an
accident.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
When pulling away, visually check
the position of the selector lever.
If you always press the push button
while operating the selector lever,
the lever may occasionally move to
the other gear position against your
intentions. Practice operating the selector lever
between the N and D without
pressing the push button.
Do not operate the selector lever
while pressing the accelerator
pedal. Doing so is dangerous
because the vehicle would
suddenly move.
Do not operate the automatic
transmission at or near stall
condition for more than
five seconds. Stall condition is when
the transmission is in one of the
driving ranges, the engine is running
at high speed, but the drive wheels
are unable to move. This condition
might occur if the vehicle is stuck in
deep sand or is pushing against a
fixed barrier. Operating the
transmission at stall condition will
result in overheating and damage.
Do not hold your vehicle on an
upgrade with the accelerator pedal.
Doing so will result in automatic
transmission overheating and
damage. Use the parking brake or
foot brake to hold the vehicle on an
upgrade.Even if you plan to move only a
short distance, sit in the correct
driving position and make sure you
can firmly press the brake and
accelerator pedals.
When you reverse, you twist to look
rearward so pedal operation
becomes difficult. Firmly press the
brake pedal. Also, practice returning
the selector lever immediately to the
N position after reversing. When
pulling away, visually check the
selector lever position and the shift
indicator.
When the vehicle is stopped, do not
keep pressing the accelerator pedal
with the selector lever in a forward
gear or R position while pressing
the brake pedal. Doing so may
cause a breakdown.
Sit in the correct driving position,
and use your right foot to operate
the brake and accelerator pedals.
To avoid accidentally pressing the
wrong pedal, check the pedal
positions and practice putting your
foot on the desired pedal.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
208 Driving and Operating
To start your vehicle:1. Firmly press the brake pedal. After making sure the selector
lever is placed into P or N, that
P or N is shown in the shift
indicator and that the parking
brake lever is fully pulled up,
place the engine control switch
into the ON position.
2. Start the engine and move the selector lever into D for forward
movement, or R for backward
movement while firmly pressing
the brake pedal with your
right foot.
3. Make sure that the shift indicator indicates the correct
gear (D for forward movement,
or R for backward movement),
release the parking brake,
release the brake pedal, and
then gradually press the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
starts moving as you press the
accelerator pedal further. On a steep slope:
Make sure that the shift indicator
indicates the correct gear (D for
forward movement, or R for
backward movement), check the
area around the vehicle is clear,
release the brake pedal with your
right foot, and then slowly press the
accelerator pedal.
After you feel the vehicle start
moving, gradually release the
parking brake lever and start driving
the vehicle.
When the brake pedal is not
pressed, the shift lock system
operates and the selector lever
cannot be shifted from P to any
other position.
See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 82, Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle 0168, Selector Lever 0214,
and Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check 0274. Normal Driving
When you move the selector lever
from P into D, shifting takes place in
the automatic mode. Check that D is
displayed in the shift indicator.
If the automatic transmission fluid
temperature is too low, the
transmission may not initially make
automatic shift to the 4th, 5th, and
6th gear. This condition is normal
and will be resolved as the fluid
temperature rises.
To Accelerate
To accelerate when the accelerator
pedal is pressed further, kickdown
operates and the speed increases.
The transmission will downshift at
speeds below 88 km/h (55 MPH), to
provide greater acceleration.
Kickdown
If you press the accelerator pedal
fully while driving, in accordance
with the current speed the gear
automatically shifts down and the
engine speed rises, enabling
sufficient acceleration. This is called
kickdown.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 209
You can easily accelerate to the
required speed when overtaking
other vehicles or when joining traffic
on a highway. In order to maintain
speed when driving on an uphill
road, as you gradually press the
accelerator pedal the engine may
automatically shift down in
accordance to the current speed
(shifts to a lower speed gear),
increasing the engine speed and
increasing vehicle speed.Driving Uphill or Downhill
Uphill driving:
With the selector lever in D, if you
press down on the accelerator
pedal, kickdown (change to a low
speed gear) may operate causing
the engine revolutions to suddenly
increase (increasing the speed).
Driving for a prolonged duration on
an uphill road with the selector lever
in D may cause the automatic
transmission fluid to overheat.
Drive with the overdrive off switch
ON to keep the engine revolutions
constant to enable smoother driving
with fewer changes in engine
revolutions.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
210 Driving and Operating
Driving conditionsSelector lever position
Normal uphill road D (overdrive off switch ON)
Steep uphill, steep slope, mountain
road with many sharp curves 2 or 1
Long uphill road 2
Downhill driving:
Do not overuse the foot brake. This
will cause the brakes to overheat,
reducing their effectiveness. On
long downward slopes or sharp
downhill sections of road, use the
engine brake together with the foot
brakes to control the speed.
When the selector lever is in the D
position, you can drive with the
overdrive off switch ON to allow a
gentle engine brake to be applied.
Push the overdrive off switch to the
ON position at speeds below
101 km/h (63 MPH) to increase
engine braking action when
traveling downgrade. You can increase engine braking by
driving with the selector lever in the
2 position.
To apply a stronger engine brake on
sharp downhill sections, shift the
selector lever to the 1 position when
required.
See
Control of a Vehicle 0139.
Driving at Low Speeds for
Sustained Periods
Any low speed applications such as
sweeper, road marking machinery,
trash collectors, highway striping or
moving, etc. require the following
treatment to prevent the automatic
transmission fluid (ATF) from
overheating:
Select 1 position during low speed
operation under 18 km/h (11 MPH). Select 2 position during low speed
operation under 36 km/h (22 MPH).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Temperature Warning Light 078.
To Stop Your Vehicle 1. To temporarily stop the vehicle, press the brake pedal firmly
while the selector lever is in D.
2. Use the parking brake as required. Press the brake pedal
firmly, and firmly apply the
parking brake.
If the vehicle is stationary for a
long time, move the selector
lever into the N or P position.
If the selector lever is kept in
D, the temperature of the
automatic transmission fluid
increases due to heat from the
torque converter.
To ensure reliable brake application,
be sure to use your right foot to
press the brake pedal.
When leaving the driver's seat,
follow the When Parking Your
Vehicle procedure.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
212 Driving and Operating
When Parking Your Vehicle
The key cannot be removed unless
the selector lever is securely placed
in the P position (key interlock
system). Be sure to place the
selector lever in the P position when
parking the vehicle.
The shift lock system is a system for
safety to prevent incorrect operation
of the automatic transmission. Use it
correctly and drive safely.
If You Cannot Move the Selector
Lever from the P Position
Caution
When the selector cannot be
operated from the P position to
any other position even after
performing the operation below
repeatedly, the shift lock system
may have a failure. Have the
vehicle inspected at your dealer.If you cannot move the selector
lever from the P position after
starting the engine, perform the
following checks:
.
Check that you are firmly
pressing the brake pedal. When
the brake pedal is not pressed,
the shift lock system operates
and the selector lever cannot be
shifted from P to any other
position.
. Check if the area where your
vehicle is parked is not a slope.
. If your vehicle is parked on a
downside slope, the operation of
the selector lever may become
heavy to move. In this case, you
can operate the selector lever
more smoothly by moving the
selector lever towards the front
of the vehicle while pressing the
button. Releasing the Shift Lock in an
Emergency
If moving of the selector lever from
P to another position is still not
possible even after performing the
instructions given in the steps
above, with the brake pedal fully
pressed and the vehicle parked on a
flat surface, carry out the procedure
described under
“If You Cannot
Move the Selector Lever from the P
Position”.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 213
Actions that Can Lead to a Breakdown with an Automatic Transmission
Actions that can lead to a breakdownBreakdown symptoms
Stopping the vehicle on an uphill road with the selector lever in a position
other than R, N, or P, the accelerator pedal pressed, and the brakes not
applied. The transmission fluid overheats.
Continuously pressing the accelerator pedal and brake pedal at the same
time while the vehicle is in a position other than N or P.
Placing the selector lever into any gear with the accelerator pedal pressed
and the engine speed high. The transmission gears are
overloaded.
Placing the selector lever into P before the vehicle has completely stopped. The parking mechanism will be
damaged.
Turning off the engine control switch while driving. The transmission is not properly
lubricated.
Driving with the selector lever in the N position on a long downward slope
(this is dangerous due to the lack of engine brake).