check transmission fluid CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD 2019 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
64 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 65
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 66
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Battery Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 73
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . 73
Service Vehicle Soon Light . . . . 74 Brake System Warning Light
(Parking Brake Light) . . . . . . . . . 74
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Exhaust Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Service Transmission Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Automatic Transmission Fluid Temperature Warning Light . . . 78
Overdrive Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Wait-to-Start Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . 79
Engine Oil Level Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine Shutdown Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Idle Shutdown Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Reduced Engine Power Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Warning Buzzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
78 Instruments and Controls
If this light comes on while driving, it
indicates that there is a malfunction
in the automatic transmission’s
electronic control system. If the
warning light is on, see your dealer
for service.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Temperature
Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine control switch is in the ON
position as a check to show the light
is working. It should go out when
the engine is started.
The Automatic Transmission Fluid
(ATF) Temperature warning light
comes on if the ATF temperature is
high. This usually occurs when the
transmission is overfilled and maybe accompanied by leakage of fluid
from the transmission
breather hose.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, slow down and pull off
the road. Stop the vehicle at a safe
place and put the vehicle in
P (Park). With the engine idling, wait
until the light goes off. If the light
goes off, you can drive the vehicle
again. Continuing to drive while this
light is on may damage the
transmission. While this light is on,
the transmission cannot operate in
all gears. If you attempt to shift
gears, the vehicle may not continue
to move. If you cannot drive to a
dealer immediately, have the vehicle
towed.
Caution
Driving with the ATF warning light
constantly on can cause serious
mechanical damage to the
automatic transmission.
See Automatic Transmission 0205.
Overdrive Off Light
This light should come on briefly
when the engine control switch is
turned on as a check to make sure
the light is working. It should go out
automatically.
This light comes on when the
overdrive off switch on the selector
lever is turned on. Overdrive will not
operate even when the automatic
transmission is in D, unless engine
speed is excessive.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
138 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 149
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 150
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 153
Emergencies(Troubleshooting) . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Emergencies (Disabled Vehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 165
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Operating Temperature . . . . . . . 171
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Idle Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
High Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Checks Before Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Diesel Particulate Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . 180
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 189
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 205
Selector Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Overdrive Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Exhaust Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Fuel
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . 227
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . 230
Water in Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Running Out of Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 233
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Power Take-Off (PTO) . . . . . . . . 237

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Driving and Operating 163
SymptomCauseCorrective Action Reference
Loud or abnormal
noises From the
transmission
Insufficient
transmission oil
Add oilSee
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
0 251
Transmission inner
components faulty
4-
From differential Insufficient differential
gear oil
Add oilSee
Rear Axle
(Gear Oil Viscosity
Chart) 0271 or
Rear Axle (Oil
Level Check) 0272
Differential inner
components faulty
4-
From the
suspension Spring pins, shackles,
or stoppers worn
4-
From the driveshaft Poor lubrication in each
component
Lubricate themSee
Owner Checks
and Services 0340
Splines or bearings worn
4-

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
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
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
Vehicle Care 239
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 240
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 240
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Cab Tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 253
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 259
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 262
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Battery - North America . . . . . . 269 Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Rear Axle (Gear Oil Viscosity
Chart) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Rear Axle (Oil Level Check) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 272
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 275
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Roofmarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Sidemarker Lamps (Including Turn Signal and Cornering
Lamps) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 286
Interior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 287
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
Vehicle Care 251
or bodies of water. Instead, recycle
it by taking it to a used oil collection
facility which may be found in your
community.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
{Warning
Overfilling of the automatic
transmission can cause the fluid
to be "PURGED" out of the
breather hose onto the hot engine
parts and can cause a fire.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Both quality and quantity of fluid are
important factors that have a
significant influence on the
performance and durability of the
automatic transmission. Be sure to
use only the dealer recommended
fluid for replenishment, and observe
the specified fluid level. Too much or too little transmission
oil could damage your transmission.
Too much could cause your
transmission to overheat and fluid to
spill out from the breather hose. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.
When cleaning around the dipstick
and guide tube, make sure that you
thoroughly wipe away all of the dirt
and dust etc. Failure to do so may
cause a fault in the transmission.
Do not let coolants (ethylene glycol
type), water based substances,
or other fluids etc., mix with the
fluid. Otherwise, degraded
performance and faulty operation of
the system will result.
Checking the Automatic
Transmission Oil level
This operation could be difficult and
you may choose to have this done
at your dealer.
If you choose to do it yourself, then
be sure to follow all the instructions
below or you could get a false
reading on the dipstick.Position of the Dipstick
For the single cab vehicle, the
dipstick is located to the left side of
the automatic transmission at the
rear of the engine. Tilt the cab up to
inspect it.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500/5500 Series (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S.-12407814) - 2019 - crc - 12/13/17
252 Vehicle Care
For the crew cab vehicle, the
dipstick is located beneath the
rear-of-engine inspection panel.
After unlatching the A/T fluid
inspection cover, the dipstick will be
visible.
Inspection
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transmission fluid if
you have been driving at high speed
for a long period of time, in city/
heavy traffic or while pulling a trailer.1. Start the engine, and drive the vehicle for approximately
10 minutes to warm up the
engine. During 10 minutes, the automatic transmission fluid
should reach a temperature of
approximately 70 - 80 °C (158 -
176 °F). During the winter
when temperatures are low,
adjust the amount of driving
time according to the actual
conditions.
2. Park the vehicle on level ground, and firmly apply the
parking brake.
3. With the engine idling, move the selector lever from the “P”
position to the “1”position
while pressing the brake pedal,
and then return the lever from
the “1”position to the “P”
position.
4. With the engine still idling, pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean cloth.Transmission Dipstick
5. Reinsert the dipstick into position, pull out the dipstick
slowly, and check whether the
fluid level is within the “H”
marked range. Always check
the fluid level at least twice.
Consistently is important in
maintaining accuracy.
If inconsistent readings persist,
check the transmission
breather to ensure that it is
clean and free of debris.
. Dipstick C (COLD) —
Transmission fluid
temperature Approx. 20 -
30 °C (68 - 86 °F).