CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2011 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
The label shows the size of
your vehicle's original tires
and the inflation pressures
needed to obtain the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle.
This is called Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel,
and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and
rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your
vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread
out your load equally on both
sides of the centerline.Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, or the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle.
The Certification/Tire label also
contains important information
about your Front Axle Reserve
Capacity. See
“What is front axle
reserve capacity, and how do
I calculate it?” underAdding a
Snow Plow or Similar Equipment
on page 9‑123.
{WARNING
In the case of a sudden stop
or collision, things carried in
the bed of your truck could
shift forward and come into
the passenger area, injuring
you and others. If you put
things in the bed of your truck,
you should make sure they
are properly secured.
{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
If you do, parts on the vehicle
can break, and it can change
the way the vehicle handles.
These could cause you to
lose control and crash. Also,
overloading can shorten the
life of the vehicle.
Notice :Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Do not overload the vehicle.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-28 Driving and Operating
Using heavier suspension
components to get added
durability might not change
your weight ratings. Ask your
dealer to help you load your
vehicle the right way.
If you put things inside your
vehicle—like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything
else —they go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{WARNING
Things you put inside your
vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of your vehicle. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Never stack heavier
things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above
the tops of the seats.
.Do not leave an
unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
.When you carry something
inside the vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
.Do not leave a seat folded
down unless you need to.
There is also important loading
information for off-road driving in
this manual. See “Loading Your
Vehicle for Off-Road Driving“
under Off-Road Driving
on
page 9‑7
. Two-Tiered Loading
Depending on the model of your
pick‐up, an upper load platform
can be created by positioning
three or four 5 cm (2 inches)
by 15 cm (6 inches) wooden
planks across the width of the
pickup box. The planks must
be inserted in the pickup box
depressions.
When using this upper load
platform, be sure the load is
securely tied down to prevent it
from shifting. The load's center
of gravity should be positioned
in a zone over the rear axle.
The zone is located in the area
between the front of each wheel
well and the rear of each wheel
well. The center of gravity height
must not extend above the top
of the pickup box flareboard.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-29
Any load that extends beyond
the vehicle's taillamp area must
be properly marked according to
local laws and regulations.
Remember not to exceed
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front
or rear axle.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable
items, you may need to put
a limit on how many people
you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle
before you buy and install the
new equipment.
Notice :Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Do not overload the vehicle. Remember not to exceed
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front
or rear axle.
* Equipment Maximum
Weight
Ladder Rack
and Cargo 340 kg
(750 lbs)
Cross Toolbox
and Cargo 181 kg
(400 lbs)
Side Boxes
and Cargo 113 kg per
side (250 lbs
per side)
* The combined weight for all
rail‐mounted equipment should
not exceed 454 kg (1,000 lbs).
Loading Points
A. Primary Load Points
B. Secondary Load Areas
C. Cargo Management Option Holes
Structural members (A) and (B) are
included in the pick-up box design.
Additional accessories should use
these load points. Depending on
the accessory design, use a spacer
under the accessory at the load
points to remove gap. The holes for
the Cargo Management System (C)
are not intended for attachment of

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-30 Driving and Operating
aftermarket equipment.
See www.gmupfitter.com for
additional pick-up box load
bearing structural information.
Truck-Camper Loading
Information
A vehicle-specific Truck‐Camper
Loading Information label is
attached to the inside of the
vehicle's glove box. This label
indicates if a slide-in camper
can be carried, how much of a
load the vehicle can carry, and
how to correctly spread out the
load. It will help to match the
right slide in camper to the
vehicle.
Your dealer can help make a
good vehicle-camper match
and help determine the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR).
When installing and loading
a slide-in camper, check the
manufacturer's instructions.When carrying a slide-in
camper, the total cargo load of
the vehicle is the weight of the
camper, plus the following:
.Everything added to the
camper after it left the factory
.Everything in the camper
.All the people inside
The CWR is the maximum
weight of the load the vehicle
can carry. It does not include
the weight of the people inside.
But, use about 68 kg (150 lbs)
for each seat.
The total cargo load must not be
more than the vehicle's CWR.
Refer to the Truck-Camper
Loading Information label in the
glove box for dimensions A and
B as shown in the following
illustration.
Use the rear edge of the load
floor for measurement purposes.
The recommended location
for the cargo center of gravity
is at point C for the CWR. It is
the point where the mass of
a body is concentrated and,
if suspended at that point, would
balance the front and rear.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
Here is an example of proper
truck and camper match:
A.Camper Center of Gravity
B.Recommended Center of
Gravity Location Zone
When the truck is used to carry
a slide‐in camper, the total cargo
load of the truck consists of the
manufacturer's camper weight
figure, the weight of installed
additional camper equipment not
included in the manufacturer's
camper weight figure, the weight of camper cargo, and the weight
of passengers in the camper.
The total cargo load should not
exceed the truck's cargo weight
rating, and the camper's center
of gravity (A) should fall within
the truck's recommended
center of gravity zone (B)
when installed.
Any accessories or other
equipment that are added to
the vehicle must be weighed.
Then, subtract this extra weight
from the CWR. This extra weight
may shorten the center of
gravity zone of the vehicle.
If the slide-in camper and its
load weighs less than the CWR,
the center of gravity zone for
your vehicle may be larger.
Secure loose items to prevent
weight shifts that could affect the
balance of the vehicle. When the
truck‐camper is loaded, drive to
a scale and weigh on the front
and on the rear wheels
separately to determine axle
loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of
the gross axle weight ratings
(GAWR). The total axle loads
should not exceed your vehicle's
gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR). These ratings are
given on the vehicle certification
label attached to the rear
edge of the driver door.
See
“Certification/Tire Label”
under Vehicle Load Limits
on
page 9‑23
. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove
items to bring all weights below
the ratings.
See your dealer for more
information on curb weights,
cargo weights, Cargo Weight
Rating and the correct center
of gravity zone.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-32 Driving and Operating
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
.Keep your speed at 88 km/h
(55 mph) or less for the first
805 km (500 miles).
.Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 805 km
(500 miles). Do not make
full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 miles) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
.Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
on page 9‑94for the
trailer towing capabilities
of the vehicle and more
information.
Following break‐in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal
On vehicles with this feature, you
can change the position of the
throttle and brake pedals.
No adjustment to the pedals can
be made when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse) or while using cruise
control.
The control used to adjust the
pedals is located on the instrument
panel below the climate control
system.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
Press the bottom of the control to
move the pedals closer. Press the
top of the control to move the
pedals away.
Before you start driving, fully
press the brake pedal to confirm
the adjustment is right for you.
While driving, make only small
adjustments.
The vehicle may have a memory
function which lets pedal settings
be saved and recalled. SeePower
Seat Adjustment
on page 3‑5for
more information.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the
ignition must be in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular
brake pedal must be applied. A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF):
When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP)
on
page 9‑35for more information.
This position locks the ignition.
It also locks the transmission on
automatic transmission vehicles.
The key can be removed in
LOCK/OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause
a loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-34 Driving and Operating
In an emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to neutral, firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle
to a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an
automatic transmission,
or neutral with a manual
transmission. Turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑68
On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever must be
in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF. The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle needs
service.
Notice:
Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the way in,
and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by
hand, see your dealer.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY): This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
C (ON/RUN): This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. The transmission
is also unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
D (START):
This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
If the vehicle is equipped with a
radio, a warning tone will sound
when the driver door is opened,
the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF and the key is in the
ignition.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-35
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories
can be used for up to 10 minutes
after the engine is turned off:
.Audio System
.Power Windows
.OnStar®System (if equipped)
.Sunroof (if equipped)
These features work when
the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF,
the windows and sunroof continue
to work up to 10 minutes until any
door is opened. The radio continues
to work for up to 10 minutes or until
the driver door is opened.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax Diesel supplement
for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Notice: The engine is designed
to work with the electronics in
the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice: Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in
N (Neutral) and the parking brake
engaged. Hold the clutch pedal
down to the floor and start the
engine. The vehicle will not start
if the clutch pedal is not all the
way down.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 Driving and Operating
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as your engine gets
warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow
the oil to warm up and lubricate
all moving parts.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key
is turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking
for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held
in START for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after
15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch to
the ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF position.
When the Low Fuel warning
lamp is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the Computer‐Controlled
Cranking System is disabled
to prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When
this happens, hold the ignition
switch in the START position
to continue engine cranking.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down. 2. If the engine does not start
after 5‐10 seconds, especially
in very cold weather (below
−18°C or 0°F), it could be
flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor
and holding it there as you hold
the key in START for up to
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to
allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts,
let go of the key and accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same
thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.