lights CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2004 1.G User Guide

Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a driver information system that
works along with the warning lights and gages. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-53.
3-33

If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passenger
air bag status indicator, it means that the passenger
sensing system or the air bag off switch has turned off
the right front passenger’s air bag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-78orAir Bag Off Switch on
page 1-73for more on this, including important
safety information.
{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s air bag is turned
off for a person who isn’t in a risk group
identied by the national government, that
person won’t have the extra protection of an
air bag. In a crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able
to inate and help protect the person sitting
there. Don’t turn off the passenger’s air bag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. See″Air Bag Off Switch″in the
Index for more on this, including important
safety information.If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag off indicator and the air bag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with the
air bag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger seat may not have the protection of
the air bag. See″Air Bag Readiness Light″in
the Index.
3-41

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-52.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on for
several seconds.
That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have
it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. You will also hear a
chime sound when the light is on steady. If the regular
brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have
brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on you don’t
have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with
your regular brakes. In addition to both lights, you will
also hear a chime sound on the rst occurrence of
a problem and each time the vehicle is shut off and then
restarted. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-43.
3-44

Seat Position Recall
Press the personalization button until SEAT POSITION
RECALL appears in the display. To select your
personalization for seat position recall, press the select
button while SEAT POSITION RECALL is displayed
on the DIC. Pressing the select button will scroll through
the following choices:
SEAT POSITION RECALL OFF (default):The memory
seat position you saved will only be recalled when the
memory button 1 or 2 is pressed.
SEAT POSITION RECALL AT KEY IN:The memory
seat position you saved will be recalled when you
put the key in the ignition.
SEAT POSITION RECALL ON REMOTE:The
memory seat position you saved will be recalled
when you unlock the vehicle with the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
Choose one of the three options and press the
personalization button while it is displayed on the DIC to
select it and move on to the next feature. For more
information on seat position recall seeMemory Seat on
page 2-70.
Perimeter Lighting
Press the personalization button until PERIMETER
LIGHTING appears in the display. To select your
personalization for perimeter lighting, press the select
button while PERIMETER LIGHTING is displayed on the
DIC. Pressing the select button will scroll through the
following choices:
PERIMETER LIGHTING ON (default):The headlamps
and back-up lamps will come on for 40 seconds, if it
is dark enough outside, when you unlock the vehicle
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
PERIMETER LIGHTING OFF:The perimeter lights will
not come on when you unlock the vehicle with the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
Choose one of the two options and press the
personalization button while it is displayed on the
DIC to select it and move on to the next feature.
3-60

If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-44.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning lights will come on
accompanied by a 10-second chime. The lights
and chime will come on each time the ignition is
turned on until the problem is repaired. See your
dealer for service.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here’s what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
4-7

QUADRASTEER™
The QUADRASTEER™ System has a control and
diagnostic module that monitors and records current
system status and operational information.
If your vehicle is equipped with the 4 Wheel Steer
system it has the ability to steer the vehicle with all
four wheels.
Once the 4-Wheel Steer mode is selected, it is
recommended to leave the vehicle in this mode at all
times, and during all driving and weather conditions.
You can select this mode at any speed, however, if you
are turning the system will not engage until the turn
is complete.
The 4-Wheel Steer system is equipped with three
different driving modes:
Two-wheel steering (2)
Four-wheel steering (4)
Four-wheel steering with a trailer mode (_)The switch is located on the instrument panel.
2:In this mode the vehicle will operate like any other
vehicle with two-wheel steering. If you want to use
2-wheel steer mode and your vehicle is not in this mode,
press the button until the 2 indicator, located to the
right of the 4-Wheel Steer button, lights up. If the
2 indicator is ashing you will have to center the steering
wheel by turning it to the left or right.
Your vehicle will return to 2 when the transmission is
shifted into NEUTRAL (N), for example when entering a
car wash.
If you want to use tire chains, the vehicle needs to be in
2-wheel steer mode. For more information seeTire
Chains on page 5-91.
4-15

When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or
other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands if you are not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you can not control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what is not.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the
very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You
could have a serious — or even fatal — accident if you
drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. SeeDrunken Driving on page 4-2.Driving on Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down or across a
hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment
and an understanding of what your vehicle can and can
not do. There are some hills that simply can not be
driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you can not control your speed. If
you drive across them, you will roll over. You
could be seriously injured or killed. If you have
any doubt about the steepness, do not drive
the hill.
4-27

You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep
your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
are not even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread
left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise to
go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
4-37

When to Check and What to Use
The clutch master cylinder
reservoir is located in the
rear of the engine
compartment on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14
for more information
on location.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often you should check the uid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir and for the proper uid. See
Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9and
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper uid should be added if the level does not
reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it’s in place in
the reservoir. See the instructions on the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-38.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-35

Trip Odometer................................................3-35
Truck-Camper Loading Information....................4-67
Turn and Lane Change Signals.......................... 3-8
TURN SIGNAL ON.........................................3-72
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-92
Two-Tiered Loading.........................................4-62
U
Underhood Fuse Block...................................5-127
Understanding Radio Reception.......................3-128
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-88
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Up-Shift Light.................................................3-43
Using Cleaner on Fabric................................5-115
Using Song List Mode...................................3-112
Using the Recovery Hooks (Except SS Model).......4-51
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-56
Parking Your...............................................2-52
Symbols......................................................... ivVehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-9
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)............................................5-122
Service Parts Identication Label..................5-122
Vehicle Personalization
Memory Seat..............................................2-70
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-53
Video Screen................................................3-117
Visors...........................................................2-19
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-42
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-33
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-64
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle....................................5-117
Weight Distributing Hitches and Weight
Carrying Hitches..........................................4-89
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-72
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-87
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-22
What to Add..................................................5-50
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-25
17