Transmission CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2003 1.G Owner's Manual

g(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle to
give you extra traction. You may never need 4LO. It
sends the maximum power to all four wheels. You might
choose 4LO if you were driving off-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which
setting you are in. The indicator lights will come on
brie¯y when you turn on the ignition and the last chosen
setting will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you
should take your vehicle in for service. An indicator light
will ¯ash while shifting. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is completed. If for some reason the transfer
cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
{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 seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See ªParking Brakeº in the
Index.NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-55orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-55for more information.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically
with some delay.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically
with some delay.
Shifting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO
To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO, the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method
for shifting into 4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to
2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4LO
switch. You must wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop
¯ashing and remain illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear.
2-42

Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the 4LO indicator light has stopped ¯ashing
could damage the transfer case. To help avoid
damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO
indicator light to stop ¯ashing before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the 4LO switch is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). The transfer case
will shift to 4HI while waiting to complete the shift.
Shifting from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI
To shift from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method
for shifting out of 4LO is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4HI
switch. You must wait for the 4HI indicator light to
stop ¯ashing and remain illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the 4HI switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the 4HI indicator light will ¯ash for
30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless the
vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
Shifting into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, ®rst make sure
the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
3. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to 2HI.
6. Simultaneously press and hold the 2HI and
4LO buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL
light will come on when the transfer case shift
to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one
second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D)
for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to OFF.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
10. Release the parking brake prior to towing.
2-43

Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (2HI, 4HI, or 4LO).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the red light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the
shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case
from possible damage and will only allow the transfer
case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer
case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes.
All-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has the SS package, it may be equipped
with all-wheel drive. With this feature, engine power
is sent to all four wheels all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It
is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for
road conditions.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ¯ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds.
2-44

Leaving Your Vehicle With
the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Only)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case shift lever and your transfer case
is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear ± not
in NEUTRAL.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Don't leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to.If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without ®rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque
lock.²To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see ªShifting
Into PARK (P)².
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
beforeyou 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, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-48

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK when
the ignition is the LOCK position. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-25.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. (There is no shift
interlock in this key position.)
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system ®xed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the manual
transmission is in gear. Your or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the
parking brake before placing the transfer case
in NEUTRAL. See²Parking Brakeº in the Index.
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever
into REVERSE (R), and ®rmly apply the parking
brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into
REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can
turn the ignition key to LOCK, remove the key and
release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if you are pulling a trailer,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-68.
2-49

Front Storage Area
Your vehicle may have a center armrest storage
compartment in the front bench seat.
To open it, fold down the armrest and press the latch
handle located at the front of the armrest. Then, let the
lid pop up and swing open.
The storage compartment has a cassette/compact disc
holder. The holder will store up to six compact disc
cases and ®ve cassette tape cases or a total of
11 cassette tape cases.
If not used to store cassette or compact disc cases, the
storage area can be used to store a laptop computer.
To use the writing table, pull the latch at the rear of the
table and swing the writing table forward. Use it to
hold a pad of paper and a pen.
Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle may be equipped with a console
compartment between the bucket seats.
To open it, press the button and swing the console lid
open. The console has a place to store tissues,
pens and a clip to hold business cards.
Your console may have a cupholder that swings down
for the rear seat passengers to use. The front cupholder
pulls out and swivels 180É to provide clearance
between tall beverage containers and the manual
transmission shift lever (if equipped).
Your vehicle may have a compact disc holder in the
console.
2-65

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-18
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-20
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Climate Control System.................................3-20
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-25
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-34
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-36
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-36
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-37Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-40
Battery Warning Light....................................3-42
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-42
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-43
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-44
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-45
Traction Off Light..........................................3-46
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-47
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-47
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-49
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-51
Cruise Control Light......................................3-52
Four-Wheel-Drive Light..................................3-52
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-53
Overdrive Disable.........................................3-53
Fuel Gage...................................................3-53
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-54
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-54
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-55
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-65
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Button. See ªDome Lampsº under
Interior Lamps on page 3-18.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. See ªClimate Controlsº in Section 3.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Electronic Transfer
Case/Traction Assist System (TAS). See
Four-Wheel
Drive on page 2-33.
E. Multifunction Lever. See
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-34.
G. Gearshift Lever (Automatic Transmission). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-25.
H. Tow/Haul Selector and Overdrive Disable (Allison
Transmission
žOnly) Button (If Equipped). SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-25.
I. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-71.
J. Comfort Control System. See
Climate Control
System on page 3-20.
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.L. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-9.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-54.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. See
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-110.
O. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-44.
P. Tilt Wheel Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on page 3-7.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlet. See
Accessory
Power Outlets on page 3-19, andAshtrays and
Cigarette Lighter on page 3-20.
R. Storage Area. See ªStorage Areasº in Section 2.
S. Ashtray. See
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
on page 3-20.
T. Manual Selectable Ride Control (If Equipped). See
Manual Selectable Ride on page 4-12.
U. 4WS Switch (If Equipped). See
QUADRASTEERŸ
on page 4-15.
V. Passenger Air Bag Off Switch. See
Air Bag Off
Switch on page 1-71.
W. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-64.
3-5

The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
·the ignition is on,
·the exterior lamps control is in AUTO,
·the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P), and
·the light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be
on. The instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the last
chosen headlamp setting that was used.
When you turn the headlamp switch off, the headlamps
will go off, and your DRL lamps will illuminate,
provided it is not dark outside.
To idle an automatic transmission equipped vehicle with
the DRL off, set the parking brake. Shifting the
transmission into PARK (P) will also allow you to idle
the vehicle with the DRL off. The DRL will stay off until
you release the parking brake or shift the transmission
out of PARK (P).
To idle a manual transmission equipped vehicle with the
DRL off, set the parking brake. The DRL will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has fog lamps, use them for better vision
in foggy or misty conditions.
The fog lamp button is
located on the left side of
your instrument panel.
Your parking lamps and/or low-beam headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on. Press the
button again to turn them off. An indicator light will glow
in the button when the fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use the fog lamps in the
dark without turning on the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever the high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off, the
fog lamps will come on again.
3-16

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast you're
going, about how much fuel you have and many other things you'll need to know to drive safely and economically.
United States Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission version shown. Canada, Light Duty Automatic and Manual
Transmission Clusters similar.
3-34