Chevrolet Express 2001 Owner's Manual

Every

2001 Express

under warranty is

backed with the

following

services:

1-800-CHEV-USA

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

call

that provides in an emergency:

1-800-268-6800

)

Courtesy

Transportation

Free Free Free Free

lockout assistance dead-battery assistance out-of-fuel assistance flat-tire change

Emergency

towing

2001 Chevrolet Express

Owner's Manual

Litho in U.S.A. Part Number C2114 A First Edition

Section

Table of Contents

Seats and Restraint Systems

Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts

Features and Controls

Windows Keys and Door Locks Keyless Entry System (If Equipped) Automatic Transmission Parking Brake Tilt Wheel (Option) Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever

Air Bag System Restraint Systems for Children

Windshield Wipers Cruise Control (Option) Exterior and Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Accessory Power Outlets Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock

Your Driving and the Road

Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking

Problems on the Road

Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle

Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)

Steering Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer

Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck

iii

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Service and Appearance Care

Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

Maintenance Schedule

Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections

Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Customer Assistance Information

Section

Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices

Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation

Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Service Publications

Index

In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.

You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.

Please refer to the last page of this manual for your

Service Station Guide

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the name EXPRESS are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

We support voluntary technician certification.

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au:

DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

vii

You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

viii

Vehicle Symbols

These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

For example, these symbols are used on an original battery:

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

INJURY

PROTECT

EYES BY

SHIELDING

CAUSTIC

BATTERY

ACID COULD

CAUSE BURNS

AVOID

SPARKS OR

FLAMES

SPARK OR

FLAME COULD

EXPLODE

BATTERY

These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven:

CHILD RESTRAINT TOP STRAP

ANCHOR

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols have to do with your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD

WARNING

FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

These symbols are on some of your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

VENTILATING

FAN

These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

Here are some other symbols you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

FUEL

Model Reference

This manual covers these models:

Passenger Van

Cargo Van

Cab and Chassis

Service Station Guide

See Section 6

For

a More

Detailed Look at

What's Under the Hood

See Section 6*

Hood Release

See Section 6

Windshield Washer

Fluid

See Section 6

*For vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, see the Diesel Engine Supplement

Battery

Cooling System

See Section 5*

Engine Oil Dipstick

See Section 6*

Oil Viscosity

Engine Oil

See Section 6*

Tire Pressure

See Section 6

Fuel Door

See Section 6*

Spare Tire

See Section 5

Fuel

See Section 6*

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-10 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

-15 Here Are Questions Many People Ask

About Safety Belts

-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

1 1

-16 Driver Position

-24 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

-25 Right Front Passenger Position

1 1

-25 Air Bag System

-34 Rear Seat Passengers

-- and the Answers

-38 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for

Children and Small Adults

1-40 Center Passenger Position 1

-42 Children

-48 Restraint Systems for Children

1 1

-61 Older Children

-64 Safety Belt Extender

-64 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

-64 Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash

1-1

Seats and Seat Controls

This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, take them out and put them back in. It also tells you about reclining front seatbacks.

Manual Front Seats

The bucket seats can be adjusted forward or rearward with the lever located at the front of the seat.

T o adjust the seat, pull the lever up to release the seat bottom and slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body , to make sure the seat is locked into place.

CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

1-2

Power Seat (Option)

Reclining Seatbacks

If your vehicle has a power seat on the driver’s or passenger’s side, you can adjust it with these switches located at the front center of the seat cushion.

T o raise or lower the seat, move the center knob up or down. T o move the seat forward or rearward, move the center knob toward the right or left.

You can raise and lower the front and rear of the seat. T o raise or lower the front of the seat, move the right lever up or down. T o raise or lower the rear of the seat, move the left lever up or down.

T o adjust the seatback, lift the front of the lever, which is located at the inboard side of the seat cushion.

Move the seatback with your body and release the lever to lock the seatback where you want it. Lean forward and pull up on the front of the lever and the seatback will go to an upright position.

1-3

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

1-4

Rear Seats

Getting Into the Rear Seats

T o make it easier for passengers to get into the rear seats, use the fastener spot on the headliner and safety belt sleeve. These will keep the safety belts out of the way while people get into the rear seats.

Removing the Rear Seat

1. Disconnect the quick release latch plates for the lap shoulder belts on the bench seat to be removed. T o do this, press the tip of a key into the release hole of the safety belt buckle while pulling up on the safety belt.

1-5

2. Lift the carpet/mat flap at the inboard side of the seat base in the rear.

1-6

3. Locate the blue or yellow handle on the inboard side of the seat base and turn it up.

4. Once the blue or yellow handle is turned up, pull the handle to remove the locking pin.

5. Stow the locking pin on the rear of the seat base in the hole that is provided.

6. Repeat this procedure for the pin on the other seat base.

7. Pull the seat rearward about two inches (5 cm) and then lift the seat from the floor rails.

8. Remove the seat from the vehicle.

9. Install the trim covers to the floor rails. These are supplied in a cardboard box at delivery.

10. For the first rear seat, stow the safety belt latch by attaching the fastener strip on the safety belt latch to the trim just inside the side door. There is also a fastener strip provided for stowing the safety belt latch for a four-passenger bench seat, if equipped.

1-7

For the remaining rear seats, stow the safety belt latch plate on the clip at the window trim.

Replacing the Rear Seats

CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

1. Remove the trim covers from the floor rails and store for future use.

1-8

2. Position the seat into the open slots in both rails. Push the seat forward in the rail, hooking both seat bases onto the pins inside of the rails.

3. T o install the locking pins at the rear of the seat base, pull the carpet/mat flap back on the inboard side to locate the hole in the rail for the pin.

4. Remove the pin from its stowed position on the seat base while holding the carpet/mat flap back.

5. Insert the blue or yellow locking pin into the seat base. Possible slight seat pushing may be needed to line up the pin with the base. Remember, each pin has its own side. The yellow pin must be installed on the passenger’s side and the blue pin on the driver’s side.

1-9

6. Turn the blue or yellow handle down until it is in the retaining clip.

7. Put the carpet/mat flap back in its original position.

8. Repeat this procedure for the other seat base.

9. Connect the quick lap

-shoulder belts by inserting the latch plates into

the buckles attached at the outboard positions of the bench seat. Do not twist the belt.

10. Check that both locking pins are locked into place before operating the vehicle.

-release latch plates for the

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.

And it explains the air bag system.

CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

1-10

CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.

In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away . Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot!

1-11

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-12

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

1-13

or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why safety belts make such good sense.

1-14

Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts

Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

-- and the Answers

A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety

belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will

be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

-- not instead of them. Every air bag

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an

accident your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and

1-15

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Adults

This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.

T o see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted.

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

1-16

5. T o make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.

1-17

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