Chevrolet Express 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 Chevrolet Express Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Air Bag System Restraint System Check

Features and Controls

Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors

OnStar Storage Areas

Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators Audio System(s)

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle

............................................... 1-3

............................................... 1-6

............................................. 1-10

....................................... 1-32

....................................... 1-65

........................................................ 2-2

....................................... 2-7

................................................. 2-16

.................................................... 2-32

System

...................................... 2-35

......................................... 2-36

............................................. 3-1

...................................... 3-19

....................................... 3-43

....................................... 4-1

........................... 1-1

............................ 1-76

..................................... 2-1

............................ 2-19

.......................... 3-4

........... 2-20

......... 3-25

..... 4-2

Towing

Service and Appearance Care

Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood All-Wheel Drive Rear Axle Front Axle Noise Control System Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identiﬁcation Electrical System Capacities and Speciﬁcations

Maintenance Schedule

Customer Assistance and Information

Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects

Index

................................................... 4-30

.......................... 5-1

..................................................... 5-3

......................................................... 5-4

................. 5-9

........................................ 5-49

............................................... 5-50

............................................... 5-51

............................... 5-52

.................................... 5-53

...................................................... 5-59

..................................... 5-92

............................... 5-100

.................................... 5-101

................... 5-106

..................................... 6-1

................................ 6-2

........................... 7-10

................................................................ 1

......... 5-58

.............. 7-1

........... 7-2

Canadian Owners

You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your dealer or from:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the name CHEVY 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.

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. C2414 A First Edition

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 will ﬁnd that pictures and words work together to explain things.

Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual, and the page number where you will ﬁnd it.

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.

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.”

iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Vehicle Symbols

Also, in this book you will ﬁnd these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

A notice will 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.

Your vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage or indicator.

If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage or indicator, reference the following topics:

• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1

• Features and Controls in Section 2

• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3

• Climate Controls in Section 3

• Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3

• Audio System(s) in Section 3

• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

These are some examples of symbols you may ﬁnd on your vehicle:

Model Reference

This manual covers these models:

Passenger Van

Cargo Van Cab and Chassis

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats ......................................................1-3

Manual Seats ................................................1-3

Power Seat ...................................................1-4

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4

Rear Seats .......................................................1-6

Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-6

Safety Belts ...................................................1-10

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-10

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-14

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-15

Driver Position ..............................................1-16

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-23

Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24

Center Passenger Position (2nd Row) ..............1-24

Center Passenger Position

(3rd, 4th and 5th Row) ...............................1-25

Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-26

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults .......................................1-29

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-31

Child Restraints .............................................1-32

Older Children ..............................................1-32

Infants and Young Children ............................1-34

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-40

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-43

Top Strap ....................................................1-47

Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-48

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-49

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System (Rear) ...............................1-51

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System (Front) ...............................1-52

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside

Seat Position ............................................1-54

Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat

Position (2nd Row) ....................................1-57

Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat

Position (3rd, 4th and 5th Row) ...................1-58

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position ............................................1-60

1-1

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Air Bag System ..............................................1-65

Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-67

When Should an Air Bag Inﬂate? ....................1-69

What Makes an Air Bag Inﬂate? .....................1-70

How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-70

What Will You See After an Air Bag

Inﬂates? ...................................................1-70

Air Bag Off Switch ........................................1-72

1-2

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-75

Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-76

Restraint System Check ..................................1-76

Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-76

Replacing Restraint System Parts After a

Crash ......................................................1-77

Front Seats

Manual Seats

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

To adjust the seat, pull the lever up to release the seat bottom. Slide the seat to where you want it and then release the lever. 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.

1-3

Power Seat

Reclining Seatbacks

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

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

To raise or lower the front of the seat cushion, move the right lever up or down. To raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion, move the left lever up or down.

1-4

To adjust the seatback, lift the front of the lever, which is located on 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.

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.

1-5

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Removing the Rear Seat

1. Disconnect the quick

2. Locate the pins.

• There are two pins located on the inboard sides

of the rear seats. If the vehicle has ﬂoor mats, the pins will be located under a ﬂap that has been cut into the mat. The driver’s side pin will have an “L” marked on it and will look like this:

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

1-6

• The passenger’s side pin will have

an “R” marked on it and will look like this:

3. Pull the pin handle up to disengage from the retaining clip, then pull the pin out.

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

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

6. Remove the seat from the vehicle.

7. For the ﬁrst row rear seat, stow the safety belt latch by attaching the clip on the safety belt latch to the trim just inside the side door. For the remaining rear seats, stow the safety belt latch plate on the clip at the window trim.

1-7

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 raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

1. 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.

2. To install the locking pins at the rear of the seat base, locate the hole in the rail for the pin. It is found on the inboard side of the seat. If the vehicle has ﬂoor mats, pull the ﬂap that has been cut into the mat.

3. Insert the locking pin into the seat base and push the seat to line up with the pin with the base. The pin with the handle marked “R” must be installed on the passenger’s side and the pin with the handle marked “L” on the driver’s side.

1-8

4. Push the pin with the handle marked “R” down until it is in the retaining clip.

5. Push the pin with the handle marked “L” down until it is in the retaining clip.

6. If the vehicle has a ﬂoor mat, put the ﬂap back to its original position.

7. Repeat this procedure for the other seat base.

8. Connect the quick-release latch plates for the 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.

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

1-9

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are 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.

{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.

{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 on page 3-28.

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

1-10

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!

Why Safety Belts Work

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

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

1-11

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider

1-12

doesn’t stop.

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

or the instrument panel...

1-13

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

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?

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

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 – not instead of them. Every air bag 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.

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 – even one that isn’t your fault – you and 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.

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

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 Older Children on page 1-32 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34. 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.

1-15

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. To 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 on page 1-31. 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.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle

end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

1-16

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you.

To move it down, pull on the center adjuster control labeled PULL. You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide.

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 crash.

After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it has locked into position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.

1-17

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body.

1-18

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

1-19

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is over an armrest.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied at the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.

1-20

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen.

1-21

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to ﬁx it.

1-22

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

1-23

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger Position

To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-16.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

Center Passenger Position (2nd Row)

If your vehicle has a second row bench seat, someone can sit in the center position. When you sit in the center position in the second row bench seat, you have a lap-shoulder belt which works the same way as the rear seat outside passengers’ belts. To learn how to wear a lap-shoulder belt see, “Lap-Shoulder Belt” under Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-26.

1-24

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