traction control CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2017 3.G User Guide

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
182 Infotainment System
The infotainment system has built-infeatures intended to help avoiddistraction by disabling somefunctions when driving. Thesefunctions may gray out when theyare unavailable. Many infotainmentfeatures are also available throughthe instrument cluster and steeringwheel controls.
Before driving:
.Become familiar with theoperation, faceplate buttons, andscreen buttons.
.Set up the audio by presettingfavorite stations, setting thetone, and adjusting thespeakers.
.Set up phone numbers inadvance so they can be calledeasily by pressing a singlebutton or by using a single voicecommand if equipped withBluetooth phone capability.
SeeDefensive Driving0248.
To p l a y t h e i n f o t a i n m e n t s y s t e m w i t hthe ignition off, seeRetainedAccessory Power (RAP)0271.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
TheftLock®is designed todiscourage theft of the vehicle'sradio by learning a portion of theVehicle Identification Number (VIN).The radio does not operate if it isstolen or moved to a differentvehicle.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
246 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 247Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 248Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 250Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 255Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 256Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 258Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 259Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 267Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 269Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 272Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 275Parking (ManualTransmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275Parking over ThingsThat Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275Active Fuel Management®.... 275
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 277Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280To w / H a u l M o d e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 2
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 283
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 294
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 297Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 301Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 302Assistance Systems forDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304Forward AutomaticBraking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306Lane Departure Warning(LDW) (2500/3500Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 312

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 247
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315Driving Characteristics andTo w i n g T i p s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 5Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318To w i n g E q u i p m e n t . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 5Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 344
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345Adding a Snow Plow or SimilarEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345Pickup Conversion toChassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many formsand can take your focus from thetask of driving. Exercise goodjudgment and do not let otheractivities divert your attention awayfrom the road. Many localgovernments have enacted lawsregarding driver distraction. Becomefamiliar with the local laws inyour area.
To a v o i d d i s t r a c t e d d r i v i n g , k e e pyour eyes on the road, keep yourhands on the steering wheel, andfocus your attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone indemanding driving situations.Use a hands-free method toplace or receive necessaryphone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,take notes, or look upinformation on phones or otherelectronic devices.
.Designate a front seatpassenger to handle potentialdistractions.
.Become familiar with vehiclefeatures before driving, such asprogramming favorite radiostations and adjusting climatecontrol and seat settings.Program all trip information intoany navigation device prior todriving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parkedto retrieve items that have fallento the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tendto children.
.Keep pets in an appropriatecarrier or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversationswhile driving, whether with apassenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Ta k i n g y o u r e y e s o f f t h e r o a d t o o
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 251
The vehicle may straighten out.Be ready for a second skid if itoccurs.
.Slow down and adjust yourdriving according to weatherconditions. Stopping distancecan be longer and vehiclecontrol can be affected whentraction is reduced by water,snow, ice, gravel, or othermaterial on the road. Learn torecognize warning clues—suchas enough water, ice, or packedsnow on the road to make amirrored surface—and slowdown when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,acceleration, or braking,including reducing vehicle speedby shifting to a lower gear. Anysudden changes could causethe tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes helpavoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can beused for off-road driving. Vehicleswithout four-wheel drive and
vehicles not equipped with AllTe r r a i n ( AT ) o r O n - O f f R o a d ( O O R )tires must not be driven off-roadexcept on a level, solid surface. Forcontact information about theoriginal equipment tires, see thewarranty manual.
One of the best ways for successfuloff-road driving is to control thespeed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenanceand service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,and check inflation pressure inall tires, including the spare,if equipped.
.Read all the information aboutfour-wheel-drive vehicles in thismanual.
.Remove any underbody airdeflector, if equipped. Re-attachthe air deflector after off-roaddriving.
.SeeHill Descent Control(HDC)0297
.Know the local laws that apply tooff-road driving.
To g a i n m o r e g r o u n d c l e a r a n c e i fneeded, it may be necessary toremove the front fascia lower airdam. However, driving without theair dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
252 Driving and Operating
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on theload floor can be tossedabout when driving overrough terrain. You or yourpassengers can be struckby flying objects. Secure thecargo properly.
.Keep cargo in the cargoarea as far forward and aslow as possible. Theheaviest things should beon the floor, forward of therear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roofraise the vehicle's center ofgravity, making it more likelyto roll over. You can beseriously or fatally injured ifthe vehicle rolls over. Putheavy loads inside thecargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loadingthe vehicle, seeVehicle Load Limits0259andTires0397.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails,roads, and areas that have beenset aside for public off-roadrecreational driving and obey allposted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers,trees, or grasses or disturbwildlife.
.Do not park over things thatburn. SeeParking over ThingsThat Burn0275.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires goodjudgment and an understanding ofwhat the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess thesteepness, traction, andobstructions. If the terrain aheadcannot be seen, get out of thevehicle and walk the hill beforedriving further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firmgrip on the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight upor down the hill.
.Slow down when approachingthe top of the hill.
.Use headlamps even during theday to make the vehicle morevisible.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
254 Driving and Operating
.Never back down a hill inN(Neutral)usingonlythebrake. The vehicle can rollbackward quickly and youcould lose control.
.If driving downhill when thevehicle stalls, shift to alower gear, release theparking brake, and drivestraight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot berestarted after stalling, set theparking brake, shift intoP(Park),andturnthevehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle andseek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path thevehicle would take if itrolled downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicleacross the incline of the hill.Ahillthatcanbedrivenstraightup or down might be too steep todrive across. Driving across anincline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels, which couldcause a downhill slide or arollover.
.Surface conditions can be aproblem. Loose gravel, muddyspots, or even wet grass cancause the tires to slip sideways,downhill. If the vehicle slipssideways, it can hit somethingthat will trip it—arock,arut,etc.—and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make thesteepness of the incline moresevere. If a rock is driven acrosswith the uphill wheels, or if thedownhill wheels drop into a rutor depression, the vehicle can tilteven more.
.If an incline must be drivenacross, and the vehicle starts toslide, turn downhill. This shouldhelp straighten out the vehicleand prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could
be crushed or killed. Always get
out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving inmud—the deeper the mud, thelower the gear. Keep the vehiclemoving to avoid getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving onsand. On loose sand, such as onbeaches or sand dunes, the tirestend to sink into the sand. Thisaffects steering, accelerating, andbraking. Drive at a reduced speedand avoid sharp turns or abruptmaneuvers.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 255
Traction is reduced on hard packedsnow and ice and it is easy to losecontrol. Reduce vehicle speed whendriving on hard packed snowand ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,drive slowly through it. At fasterspeeds, water splashes and thevehicle can stall. When goingthrough water, the brakes get wetand it may take longer to stop. See“Driving on Wet Roads”later in thissection.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris thathas collected on the underbody orchassis, or under the hood. Theseaccumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,have the brake linings cleaned andchecked. These substances cancause glazing and uneven braking.Check the body structure, steering,suspension, wheels, tires, andexhaust system for damage andcheck the fuel lines and coolingsystem for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance serviceis required. See theMaintenanceSchedule0452.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reducevehicle traction and affect yourability to stop and accelerate.Always drive slower in these typesof driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles anddeep-standing or flowing water.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
Driving and Operating 257
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep thevehicle in its own lane. Do notswing wide or cross thecenter line.
.Be alert on top of hills;something could be in your lane(e.g., stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special roadsigns (e.g., falling rocks area,winding roads, long grades,passing or no-passing zones)and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires andthe road creates less traction orgrip, so drive carefully. Wet ice canoccur at about 0 °C (32 °F) whenfreezing rain begins to fall. Avoiddriving on wet ice or in freezing rainuntil roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Acceleratingtoo quickly causes the wheels tospin and makes the surfaceunder the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. SeeTr a c t i o n C o n t r o l / E l e c t r o n i cStability Control0295.
.The Antilock Brake System(ABS) improves vehicle stabilityduring hard stops, but thebrakes should be applied soonerthan when on dry pavement.SeeAntilock Brake System(ABS)0292.
.Allow greater following distanceand watch for slippery spots. Icypatches can occur on otherwiseclear roads in shaded areas.The surface of a curve or anoverpass can remain icy whenthe surrounding roads are clear.Avoid sudden steeringmaneuvers and braking whileon ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place andsignal for help. Stay with the vehicleunless there is help nearby.If possible, use RoadsideAssistance. SeeRoadsideAssistance Program0476.Togethelp and keep everyone in thevehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warningflashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outsidemirror.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
258 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base ofthe vehicle, especially anyblocking the exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm(2 in) on the vehicle sidethat is away from the wind,to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets onor under the instrumentpanel.
.Adjust the climate controlsystem to circulate the airinside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highestsetting. See“ClimateControl Systems.”
For more information about CO,
seeEngine Exhaust0276.
To s a v e f u e l , r u n t h e e n g i n e f o rshort periods to warm the vehicleand then shut the engine off andpartially close the window. Movingabout to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,when running the engine, push theaccelerator pedal slightly so theengine runs faster than the idlespeed. This keeps the batterycharged to restart the vehicle and tosignal for help with the headlamps.Do this as little as possible, tosave fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin thewheels to free the vehicle whenstuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.See“Rocking the Vehicle to Get ItOut”later in this section.
The Traction Control System (TCS)can often help to free a stuckvehicle. SeeTr a c t i o n C o n t r o l /Electronic Stability Control0295.If TCS cannot free the vehicle, see“Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out”following.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tirechains on the vehicle, seeTireChains0419.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9956065) - 2017 - CRC - 4/29/16
282 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle has an exhaust brake,it can also be used, but will notautomatically downshift thetransmission. See“Exhaust Brake”in the Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
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.
Low Traction Mode
If equipped, Low Traction Modeassists in vehicle acceleration whenroad conditions are slippery, suchas with ice or snow. While thevehicle is at a stop, select L2 usingRange Selection Mode. This willlimit torque to the wheels and helpto prevent the tires from spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
Vehicles with an automatictransmission have a Tow/HaulMode. The Tow/Haul Mode adjuststhe transmission shift pattern toreduce shift cycling. This providesincreased performance, vehiclecontrol, and enhanced transmissionand engine cooling when drivingdown steep hills or mountaingrades, when towing, or whenhauling heavy loads.
The selector button is on the end ofthe shift lever. Turn the Tow/HaulMode on and off by pressing the
button. When the Tow/Haul Mode isenabled, a light on the instrumentcluster will come on.
For an eAssist vehicle, the Stop/Start function will becomeunavailable when Tow/Haul Mode isactive.
For an eAssist vehicle, theRegenerative Braking functionality isdisabled when using the Tow/HaulMode. See the eAssist supplement.
SeeTo w / H a u l M o d e L i g h t0141andHill and Mountain Roads0256.Also see“To w / H a u l M o d e”underTo w i n g E q u i p m e n t0335.
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking
To w / H a u l M o d e G r a d e B r a k i n g i sonly enabled while the Tow/HaulMode is selected and the vehicle isnot in the Range Selection Mode.See“To w / H a u l M o d e”listedpreviously andManual Mode0280.To w / H a u l M o d e G r a d e B r a k i n gassists in maintaining desiredvehicle speeds when driving ondownhill grades by using the engineand transmission to slow thevehicle.