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2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Owners Manual - Starting and Operating



Starting and Operating

New Vehicle Break-In

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal

If equipped, the position of the throttle and brake pedals can be changed.

The pedals can only be adjusted when the vehicle is in P (Park).

The switch used to adjust the pedals is on the center stack, below the climate controls.

Lift the switch up to move the pedals closer to your body. Press the switch down to move the pedals away.

Before you start driving, fully press the brake pedal to confirm the adjustment is right for you.

The vehicle may have a memory function, which lets pedal settings be saved and recalled. See Memory Seats 0 60.

    Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF
    ACC/ACCESSORY
    ON/RUN
    START

The ignition switch has four positions.

To shift out of P (Park), the ignition must be in ON/RUN and the brake pedal must be applied.

0 (Stopping the Engine/LOCK/ OFF) : This position turns off the vehicle. It also locks the ignition, the transmission, and the steering column, if equipped with a locking steering column.

To turn off the vehicle:

    Make sure that the vehicle is stopped.
    Shift to P (Park).
    Continue to hold the brake pedal, then set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0 271.
    Push the key all the way in the steering column (1), then turn the key to LOCK/OFF (2).
    Remove the key.
    Release the brake pedal.

See your dealer if the key can be removed in any other position.

Retained Accessory Power (RAP) will remain active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0 251.

A warning chime will sound when the driver door is opened and the key is in the ignition.

If equipped with a locking steering column, the steering can bind with the front wheels turned off center, which may prevent key rotation out of LOCK/OFF. If this happens, move the steering wheel from right to left while turning the key to ACC/ ACCESSORY. If this does not work, then the vehicle needs service.

In an emergency, if the vehicle cannot be pulled over and must be turned off while driving:

    Push the key all the way in toward the steering column, then turn the key to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
    Brake using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This may deplete power assist, requiring increased brake pedal force.
    Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving. Continue braking and steer the vehicle to a safe location.
    Come to a complete stop.
    Shift to P (Park) with an automatic transmission, or Neutral with a manual transmission.
    Continue to hold the brake pedal, then set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0 271.
    Push the key all the way in toward the steering column, then turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
    Remove the key.
    Release the brake pedal.

    (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This

position allows features such as the infotainment system to operate

while the vehicle is off. It also unlocks the steering column,

if equipped with a locking steering column. Use this position if the vehicle must be pushed or towed. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0 251.

From ON/RUN, push the key all the way in toward the steering column, then turn the key to ACC/ ACCESSORY.

If the key is left in ACC/ ACCESSORY with the engine off, the battery could drain and the vehicle may not start.

A warning chime will sound when the driver door is opened and the key is in the ignition.

    (ON/RUN) : This position can be used to operate the electrical accessories and to display some instrument cluster warning and indicator lights. This position can also be used for service and diagnostics, and to verify the proper operation of the malfunction indicator lamp as may be required for emission inspection purposes.

The switch stays in this position when the engine is running. The transmission is also unlocked in this position.

If the key is left in ON/RUN with the engine off, the battery could drain and the vehicle may not start.

    (START) : This is the position that starts the engine. When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition returns to ON/RUN for driving.

If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement.

Place the transmission in the proper gear.

Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.

    With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as the 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.

When the low fuel warning light is on and the FUEL LEVEL LOW message is displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC), hold the ignition switch in the START position to continue engine cranking.

    If the engine does not start after five to 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 while holding 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.

If equipped, this feature is available only with cruise control. The manual fast idle switch is operated using the cruise control buttons on the left side of the steering wheel.

This system can be used to increase engine idle speed whenever the following conditions are met:

    The parking brake is set.
    The brake pedal is not pressed.
    The vehicle must not be moving and the accelerator must not be pressed.

To control the fast idle:

    To enable the Fast Idle System, press and release the cruise control on/off button and ensure that the switch indicator light is lit.
    Press and release the cruise control SET- button. Engine speed will be held at approximately 1200 rpm.

One of the following actions will turn off the fast idle:

    Pressing the brake.
    Selecting the cruise control cancel button.
    Releasing the parking brake.
    Moving the transmission shift lever out of P (Park) or N (Neutral).
    Selecting the cruise control on/ off button when it was previously on.
    Pressing the cruise control SET- button a second time.
    Pressing the accelerator more than one-quarter of the

way down.

    Turning the ignition off.

The following vehicle accessories can be used for up to 10 minutes after the ignition is turned off:

    Audio System
    Power Windows
    OnStar System (if equipped)
    Sunroof (if equipped)

These features work when the ignition is on or in ACC/ ACCESSORY. Once the ignition is turned from on to off, the windows and sunroof continue to work up to 10 minutes or until any door is opened. The radio continues to work for up to 10 minutes or until the driver door is opened.

Accessory Power Outlets (APOs)

The vehicle may have Accessory Power Outlets (APOs) in several locations. See Power Outlets 0 130.

The APOs in the console or center seat position are powered by Retained Accessory Power (RAP).

They will continue to work for up to 10 minutes after the ignition is turned from on to off, or until the driver door is opened.

The APOs on the center stack come from the factory powered directly from the vehicle battery, and supply accessory power at all times, regardless of ignition key position.

If electronic items are left plugged into these APOs for long periods of time with the vehicle off, the vehicle battery could be drained. The vehicle may not start if the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period of time.

The engine heater can provide easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up in cold weather conditions at or below

−18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with an engine heater should be plugged in at least four hours before starting.

An internal thermostat in the plug-end of the cord may exist,

which will prevent engine coolant heater operation at temperatures above −18 °C (0 °F).

If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement.

    Turn off the engine.
    Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is secured to the driver side fender with a clip, next to the engine compartment fuse block. Carefully remove the

wire tie that bundles the electrical plug. Do not cut the electrical cord.

Check the heater cord for damage. If it is damaged, do not use it. See your dealer for a replacement. Inspect the cord for damage yearly.

    Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
    Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be damaged.

The length of time the heater should remain plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a dealer in the area where you will be parking the vehicle for the best advice on this.

    Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0 271.
    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.
    Be sure the transfer case (if equipped) is in a drive gear– not in N (Neutral).
    Push the ignition key in, towards the steering column and then turn the ignition off.
    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).

If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running, be sure the vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you move the shift lever into P (Park), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from P (Park) without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into P (Park).

If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift the transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of P (Park). This is called torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park) properly before you leave the

driver seat.

When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of P (Park) before you release the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission. You will then be able to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).

This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock release system. The shift lock release system is designed to prevent movement of the shift lever out of P (Park), unless the ignition is on and the 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. See Jump Starting - North America 0 409.

To shift out of P (Park):

    Apply the brake pedal.
    Move the shift lever to the desired position.

If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):

    Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
    While holding down the brake pedal, push the shift lever all the way into P (Park).
    Move the shift lever to the desired position.

If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the vehicle serviced soon.

Active Fuel Management

Vehicles with a gasoline engine may have Active Fuel Management. This system allows the engine to operate on either all of its cylinders, or in reduced cylinder operation, depending on the driving conditions.

When less power is required, such as cruising at a constant vehicle speed, the system will operate in reduced cylinder operation, allowing the vehicle to achieve better fuel economy. When greater power demands are required, such as accelerating from a stop, passing, or merging onto a freeway, the system will maintain full-cylinder operation.


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