CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2007 1.G Owners Manual

Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 605.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and could have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specications on
page 620.
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If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have
wear indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake
rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings
inspected immediately. Rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. Drum brakes
have an inspection hole to inspect lining wear
during scheduled maintenance. When you have
the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, the brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality brake parts. When you replace
parts of the braking system — for example, when
the brake linings wear down and you need
new ones put in — be sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the brakes
might not work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between the front and rear
brakes can change — for the worse. The braking
performance you have come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
532

Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 500for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 534for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
533

Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery (or batteries) has run
down, you may want to use another vehicle and
some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure
to use the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that would
not be covered by your warranty.Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it will not work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a
12-volt system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged. Only use
vehicles with 12-volt systems with negative
grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. If you have a vehicle with a diesel engine with
two batteries, you should know before you
begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
not be able to get enough power from a
single battery in another vehicle to start your
diesel engine. If your vehicle has more
than one battery, use the battery that is closer
to the starter -- this will reduce electrical
resistance. This is located on the passenger
side, in the rear of the engine compartment.
534

3. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper
cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are
not touching each other. If they are, it could
cause an unwanted ground connection.
You would not be able to start your vehicle,
and the bad grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put
the automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in NEUTRAL before
setting the parking brake. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear, not in NEUTRAL.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other
accessories on during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
Always turn off your radio and other
accessories when jump starting your vehicle.4. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory power
outlets. Turn off the radio and all the lamps
that are not needed. This will avoid sparks and
help save both batteries. And it could save
the radio!
5. Open the hood on the other vehicle and
locate the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on that vehicle.
The positive (+) terminal, is located under a
red plastic cover at the positive battery
post. To uncover the positive (+) terminal,
open the red plastic cover.
535

The remote negative (-) terminal is a stud
located on the right front passenger side of the
engine, where the negative battery cable
attaches.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 500
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
536

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a ashlight if you need more
light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You
do not need to add water to the battery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a
battery has ller caps, be sure the right
amount of uid is there. If it is low, add
water to take care of that rst. If you do not,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn
you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on your
skin, ush the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can
injure you badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts once the engine is
running.
6. Check that the jumper cables do not have
loose or missing insulation. If they do, you
could get a shock. The vehicles could
be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+)
will go to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Negative (−) will go to a heavy, unpainted
metal engine part or to a remote negative (−)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)or
you will get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts too. And do
not connect the negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the dead battery
because this can cause sparks.
537

7. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to
the positive (+)
terminal of
the vehicle with the
dead battery.
8. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect
it to the positive (+) terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to
the negative (−) terminal of the good battery.
Use a remote negative (−) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until
the next step.10. Connect the other end of the negative (−)
cable to a heavy, unpainted metal engine
part or to the remote negative (−) terminal, on
the vehicle with the dead battery.
11. Start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead
battery. If it will not start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage the vehicle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always connect and remove
the jumper cables in the correct order, making
sure that the cables do not touch each other
or other metal.
5.3L engine (4.3L, 4.8L
and 6.0L similar),
538

A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or
Remote Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and
Remote Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both
vehicles do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle that had the bad battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) terminal cover, to its
original position.
Jumper Cable Removal
539

Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle
uid unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear
an unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
All axle assemblies are lled by volume of uid
during production. They are not lled to reach
a certain level. When checking the uid level on
any axle, variations in the readings can be caused
by factory ll differences between the minimum
and the maximum uid volume. Also, if a vehicle
has just been driven before checking the uid
level, it may appear lower than normal because
uid has traveled out along the axle tubes and has
not drained back to the sump area. Therefore, a
reading taken ve minutes after the vehicle
has been driven will appear to have a lower uid
level than a vehicle that has been stationary
for an hour or two. Remember that the rear axle
assembly must be supported to get a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be
on a level surface.
For all 4.3L, 4.8L and 5.3L 1500 Series
applications, the proper level is 0.04 inches to
0.75 inches (1 mm to 19 mm) below the bottom
of the ller hole, located on the rear axle. Add
only enough uid to reach the proper level.
540