ignition CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2009 2.G Owner's Guide

Parking Brake
For vehicles with a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-42.A chime sounds and the warning light ashes when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 5 mph (8 km/h).
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then pull the bottom edge of the lever with
the parking brake symbol, located above the parking
brake pedal.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-51.
2-50

For vehicles without a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down,
then pushing down the parking brake pedal.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-42.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push down momentarily on the parking
brake pedal until you feel the pedal release. Slowly
pull your foot up off the park brake pedal. If the parking
brake is not released when you begin to drive, the
brake system warning light will ash and a chime will
sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-51.
2-51

Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
Neutral, the vehicle will be free to roll, even if the
shift lever is in P (Park). So, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear — not in Neutral. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-51.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking
brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-50for more
information.2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by
pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not
in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
2-52

Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in P (Park) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of P (Park),
unless the ignition is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brake pedal is
applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in
the case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than
9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-44for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever all the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the
vehicle serviced soon.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under the vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that
can burn.
2-54

{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in N (Neutral) will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if the automatic transmission shift lever is in
P (Park). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in N (Neutral). Always set the
parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into Park on page 2-52.
If pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-51.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Hold the inside rearview mirror in the center to move it
for a clearer view behind your vehicle. Adjust the
mirror to avoid glare from the headlamps behind you.
Push the tab forward for daytime use and pull it for
nighttime use.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three additional control
buttons for the OnStar®system. See your dealer/retailer
for more information about OnStar®and how to
subscribe to it. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-71for
more information about the services OnStar®provides.
O(On/Off):Press to turn the dimming feature on
or off.
The vehicle may also have a Rear Vision Camera
(RVC). SeeRear Vision Camera (RVC) on page 2-65
for more information.
If the vehicle has RVC, the
O(On/Off) button for
turning the automatic dimming feature on or off will not
be available.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Automatic dimming reduces the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature comes on and the indicator light illuminates each
time the ignition is turned to start.
2-57

Resetting the Power Foldaway Mirrors
Reset the power foldaway mirrors if:
The mirrors are accidentally obstructed while
folding.
They are accidentally manually folded/unfolded.
The mirrors will not stay in the unfolded position.
The mirrors vibrate at normal driving speeds.
To reset the power foldaway mirrors, fold and unfold
them one time using the mirror controls. This will reset
them to their normal position.
Automatic Dimming
The driver outside mirror adjusts for the glare of the
headlamps behind you. SeeAutomatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2-57for more information.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may also have a turn signal indicator on the
mirror. An arrow on the mirror ashes in the direction
of the turn or lane change.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory package, the passenger
and/or driver mirror tilts to a preselected position when
the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This feature lets the driver
view the curb when parallel parking. The mirror(s) return
to the original position when the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned off or to OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 3-76for more information.
2-60

Sunroof
On vehicle with a power sliding sunroof, the ignition
needs to be turned to RUN, or the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) must be activated to open or close the
sunroof. When RAP is active, the sunroof will work for
10 minutes after the ignition is turned off, or until
the driver’s door is opened. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 2-23for more information.
Extended Cab
If your vehicle is an
extended cab, the sunroof
switch is located on the
headliner above the
rearview mirror.
Vent:From the closed position, press and hold the rear
of the switch to vent the sunroof. To close the sunroof,
press and hold the front of the switch.Open:From the vent position, the sunroof can
be fully opened either manually or by using the
express-open feature. To open manually, press the rear
of the switch to the rst depression and hold until the
sunroof has reached the desired position. To open using
express-open, press the rear of the switch fully and
release. The sunroof will move to the full open position.
To stop the sunroof partway, press the switch a
second time.
Close:From the vent, or open position, press and hold
the front of the switch to close the sunroof.
The sunroof also has a roller sunshade that can be
used to block the rays of the sun. The roller sunshade
can be manually operated with the sunroof in an open or
closed position. To open the sunshade, press and
unlatch it, and roll it back. To close, pull it forward and
latch it into the closed position.
When the sunroof is opened, an air deector will
automatically raise. The air deector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
2-85

Once the vehicle speed reaches about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, press the +RES button on the steering wheel.
The vehicle will go back to the previous set speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until the desired speed is reached, then
release it.
To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce the vehicle speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button on the steering wheel briey.
Each time this is done, the vehicle goes about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will
slow down to the previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. While going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s
speed. While going downhill, you might have to brake
or shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. When the brakes are applied the cruise control
turns off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press[on the steering wheel.
PressTon the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased, when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
3-15

2(Headlamps):Turns on the headlamps together
with the following:
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is
on, the headlamps turn off automatically 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned off. When the headlamps are
turned on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will
stay on for 10 minutes before automatically turning off
to prevent the battery from being drained. Turn the
headlamp control to off and then back to the headlamp
on position to make the headlamps stay on for an
additional 10 minutes.
Push the turn signal/multifunction lever toward the
instrument panel to change the headlamps from low
beam to high beam.
Headlamps on Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and the ignition is
off and a door is open. To disable the chime, turn the
light off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on
all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in P (Park).
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only the DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker, instrument panel lights,
and other lamps will not be on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the exterior lamps
control to the OFF position and then release.
For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission
must be in the P (Park) position, before the DRL lamps
can be turned off.
3-17

Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system turns on the headlamps at the
normal brightness, along with the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps, and the instrument panel lights.
The radio lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then release
it. For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission
must be in the P (Park) position, before the automatic
headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel in the defroster grille that regulates
when the automatic headlamps turn on. Do not cover the
sensor or the headlamps will come on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so
that driving under bridges or bright overhead streetlights does not affect the system. The DRL and
automatic headlamp system is only affected when the
light sensor detects a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
the vehicle leaves the garage, it takes approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is bright enough outside. During that
delay, the instrument panel cluster may not be as
bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel
brightness control is in the full bright position.
SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-20.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the control to the off position.
The headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. This feature can be programmed using the
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-76.
The regular headlamp system can be turned on
when needed.
3-18