trailer CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2011 2.G Owner's Manual

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-43
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out
of the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running unless you
have to. 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,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
{WARNING
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.
See Shifting Into Park
on
page 9‑38.
If pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on
page 9‑90.
Automatic
Transmission
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission have an electronic
shift position indicator within
the instrument panel cluster.
This display comes on when
the ignition key is turned to
the ON/RUN position.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-44 Driving and Operating
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
Hydra-Matic®4-Speed Automatic
Transmission
Heavy Duty 6-Speed Automatic
Transmission Shown (Light Duty 6‐Speed Similar)
See “Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode on page 9‑47. P (Park):
This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily. When parked on a hill,
especially when the vehicle has a
heavy load, you might notice an
increase in the effort to shift out of
P (Park). See “Torque Lock” under
Shifting Into Park
on page 9‑38for more information.
{WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running unless
you have to. 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,
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park
on
page 9‑38
. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑90.
{WARNING
If you have Four-Wheel Drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll —even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in Neutral.
So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
Neutral. See Shifting Into Park
on page 9‑38.

Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-45
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle is Stuck on page 9‑22.
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when
the vehicle is being towed.{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Be sure
the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle. D (Drive):
This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts
down to the next gear and has
more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or for off-road
driving. You might want to shift
the transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts
too often.

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-46 Driving and Operating
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See“Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9‑6.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed
to determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this could appear
to be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally. The transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. Adaptive shift
controls continually compares
key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts
stored in the transmissions
computer. The transmission
constantly makes adjustments
to improve vehicle performance
according to how the vehicle is
being used, such as with a heavy
load or when temperature changes.
During this adaptive shift control
process, shifting might feel different
as the transmission determines the
best settings.
When temperatures are very cold,
the Allison Transmission and
Hydra-Matic 6-Speed transmission's
gear shifting could be delayed
providing more stable shifts until
the engine warms up. Shifts could
be more noticeable with a cold
transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal.M (Manual Mode):
This position
is available on vehicles with the
Allison Transmission or Hydra-Matic
6-Speed transmission. It lets
drivers select the range of gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions. If the vehicle has this
feature, see “Range Selection
Mode” underManual Mode
on
page 9‑47.
3 (Third): This position is also used
for normal driving. It reduces vehicle
speed more than D (Drive) without
using the brakes. You might choose
3 (Third) instead of D (Drive) when
driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less
shifting between gears and when
going down a steep hill.
2 (Second): This position reduces
vehicle speed even more than
3 (Third) without using the brakes.
You can use 2 (Second) on hills.
It can help control vehicle speed as
you go down steep mountain roads,
but then you would also want to use
the brakes off and on.

Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-47
If you manually select 2 (Second)
in an automatic transmission, the
transmission will start in second
gear. You can use this feature for
reducing the speed of the rear
wheels when you are trying to start
the vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces.
1 (First):For the Hydra-Matic
4-Speed transmission this position
reduces vehicle speed even more
than 2 (Second) without using the
brakes. You can use it on very steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in 1 (First) while
the vehicle is moving forward, the
transmission does not shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
For an Allison Transmission or
Hydra-Matic 6-Speed transmission,
this position reduces vehicle speed without using the brakes. You can
use it for major/severe downgrades
and off-road driving where the
vehicle would otherwise accelerate
due to steepness of grade. When
you shift to 1 (First) it provides the
lowest gear appropriate to current
road speed and continues to
downshift as the vehicle slows,
eventually downshifting to
1 (First) gear.
Notice:
Spinning the tires
or holding the vehicle in one
place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
(Allison®Transmission or
Hydra-Matic®6-Speed
Transmission)
The vehicle may have a Range
Selection Mode. The Range
Selection Mode helps control the
vehicle's transmission and vehicle
speed while driving down hill or
towing a trailer by letting you select
a desired range of gears.

Black plate (69,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-69
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on any hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on
page 9‑90.
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.
See Brake System Warning Light
on page 5‑29. 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 flash 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 Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on
page 9‑90.
Brake Assist (Except
With 4.3L V6 Engine)
If this vehicle has StabiliTrak®, it
also has a Brake Assist feature
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement
the power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle.
The stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.

Black plate (70,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-70 Driving and Operating
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time
is normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates
The Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when
the brake pedal is released or
brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature, which may be useful
when the vehicle is stopped on a
grade. This feature is designed to
prevent the vehicle from rolling,
either forward or rearward, during
vehicle drive off. After driver
completely stops and holds the
vehicle in a complete standstill on
a grade, HSA will be automaticallyactivated. During the transition
period between when the driver
releases the brake pedal and starts
to accelerate to drive off on a grade,
HSA holds the braking pressure for
a maximum of two seconds to
ensure that there is no rolling back.
The brakes will automatically
release when the accelerator pedal
is applied within the two second
window. If the vehicle is equipped
with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, HSA may
also apply the trailer brakes. It will
not activate if the vehicle is in a
drive gear and facing downhill or
if the vehicle is facing uphill and
in R (Reverse). There may be
situations on minor hills (less than
5% grade) with a loaded vehicle or
while pulling a trailer where HSA
will not activate.
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle may have a vehicle
stability enhancement system called
StabiliTrak
®. It is an advanced
computer-controlled system that
assists the driver with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and
the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any
one of the vehicle's brakes to assist
the driver with keeping the vehicle
on the intended path.
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic
checks to insure there are no
problems. The system may be
heard or felt while it is working.
This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with the vehicle.

Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-73
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that
a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer for service.
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature. SeeTrailer
Sway Control (TSC) on page 9‑123.
2500 and 3500 series vehicles with
StabiliTrak have a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature. See Hill Start Assist
(HSA) on page 9‑70.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but
when traction is low, this feature will
allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
For vehicles with cruise control, a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph)
or more can be maintained
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph). When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off.
For vehicles with an Allison or
Hydra‐Matic 6‐speed automatic
transmission, see
“Grade Braking
and Cruise Grade Braking (Allison
Transmission) under Tow/Haul
Mode
on page 9‑49for an
explanation of how cruise control
interacts with the Range Selection
Mode, tow/haul and grade braking
systems.
For vehicles with the StabiliTrak
system that begins to limit wheel
spin while you are using cruise
control, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak
®Systemon page 9‑70.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.

Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-77
The system can be disabled by
pressing the rear park aid disable
button located next to the radio.
The indicator light comes on and
PARK ASSIST OFF displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) to
indicate that URPA is off; seeObject
Detection System Messages
on
page 5‑48.
Notice: If you use URPA while the
tailgate is lowered, it may not
detect an object behind your
vehicle, and you might back into
the object and damage your
vehicle. Always verify the tailgate
is closed when using URPA or
turn off URPA when driving with
the tailgate lowered.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The following messages may be
displayed on the DIC:
SERVICE PARK ASSIST: If this
message occurs, take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: This message
occurs if the driver disables the
system.
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL: This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see “Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care
on
page 10‑106.
.The park assist sensors are
covered by frost or ice. Frost or
ice can form around and behind
the sensors and may not always
be seen; this can occur after washing the vehicle in cold
weather. The message may not
clear until the frost or ice has
melted.
.A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the tailgate
during the last drive cycle. Once
the attached object is removed
and the tailgate is raised, URPA
will return to normal operation.
.A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
.The vehicle's bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions are affecting
system performance. Examples
of this are vibrations from a
jackhammer or the compression
of air brakes on a very large
truck.
If the system is still disabled after
driving forward at least 40 km/h
(25 mph), take the vehicle to your
dealer.

Black plate (90,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-90 Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that
has been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section:
.For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see“Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips.”
.For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see “Trailer Towing.”
.For information on equipment
to tow a trailer, see “Towing
Equipment.” For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle
on
page 10‑101. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motorhome, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing
on
page 10‑101.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Pulling a Trailer
Important points for pulling a trailer:
.There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering.
Make sure the rig will be legal,
not only where you live but
also where you will be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state
or provincial police.
.Consider using a sway control.
See “Hitches” underTowing
Equipment on page 9‑111.
.Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 800 km (500 miles)
the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle, or other
parts could be damaged.
.During the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over
80 km/h (50 mph) and do
not make starts at full throttle.
This helps the engine and other
parts of the vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads
and/or hilly conditions.
Important considerations that have
to do with weight:
.Weight of the trailer
.Weight of the trailer tongue
.Weight on the vehicle's tires
.Weight of the trailering
combination