Chevrolet Express 2009 User Manual

2009 Chevrolet Express Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint System

Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Airbag System Restraint System Check

Features and Controls

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

Instrument Panel

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

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle Towing

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

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

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

....................................... 1-29

......................................... 1-56

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

................................................. 2-13

.................................................... 2-33

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

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

...................................... 3-18

....................................... 3-64

................................................... 4-24

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

............................ 1-75

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

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

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

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

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

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

........ 3-23

.................. 3-41

....... 4-2

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 Information

Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy

Index

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

......................................................... 5-5

........................................ 5-45

............................................... 5-46

............................................... 5-47

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

...................................................... 5-55

..................................... 5-99

.................................... 5-107

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

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

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

............... 5-12

............................... 5-48

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

................... 5-114

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

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

........................... 7-15

......... 5-54

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

........... 7-17

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. GM reserves the right tomakechangesafter that time without further notice. For vehiclesﬁrstsoldin Canada, substitute the name “General Motors ofCanada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division wherever itappears in this manual.

This manual describes features that may or may not be on your speciﬁc vehicle.

If the vehicle has the DURAMAX to the DURAMAX

Diesel supplement for additional

Diesel engine, refer

and speciﬁc information on this engine.

Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols, and words work together to explain vehicle operation.

Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.

Canadian Owners

A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from:

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

1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com

Propriétaires Canadiens

On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:

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

1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 25780708 B Second Printing

Index

To quickly locate information about the vehicle, use the index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do not do this,” or “Do not let this happen.”

A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning.

{ CAUTION:

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

Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.

A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle.

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

Many times, this damage would not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage.

There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or Notice.

Vehicle Symbols

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

M : This symbol is shown when you need to see your

owner manual for additional instructions or information.

* : This symbol is shown when you need to see a

service manual for additional instructions or information.

iii

Vehicle Symbol Chart

Here are some additional symbols that may be found on the vehicle and what they mean. For more information on the symbol, refer to the index.

9 : Airbag Readiness Light # : Air Conditioning ! : Antilock Brake System (ABS) g : Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar

$ : Brake System Warning Light " : Charging System

I : Cruise Control

B : Engine Coolant Temperature

O : Exterior Lamps

# : Fog Lamps

. : Fuel Gage

+ : Fuses

i : Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer

j : LATCH System Child Restraints

* : Malfunction Indicator Lamp : : Oil Pressure

} : Power

/ : Remote Vehicle Start

> : Safety Belt Reminders

7 : Tire Pressure Monitor

_ : Tow/Haul Mode

F : Traction Control M : Windshield Washer Fluid

Section 1 Seats and Restraint System

Front Seats ......................................................1-2

Manual Seats ................................................1-2

Power Seat ...................................................1-3

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-3

Rear Seats .......................................................1-5

Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-5

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

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

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

Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-23

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-28

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-28

Child Restraints .............................................1-29

Older Children ..............................................1-29

Infants and Young Children ............................1-32

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-35

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-37

Lower Anchors and Tethers for

Children (LATCH) ......................................1-39

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Rear Seat Position ....................................1-45

Securing a Child Restraint in

the Right Front Seat Position

(With Passenger Sensing System) ...............1-48

Securing a Child Restraint in

the Right Front Seat Position

(With Airbag On-Off Switch) ........................1-52

Airbag System ...............................................1-56

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58

When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-61

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-63

How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-63

What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-64

Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-65

Passenger Sensing System ............................1-68

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-73

Adding Equipment to Your

Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............................1-74

Restraint System Check ..................................1-75

Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-75

Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash ............................................1-76

1-1

Front Seats

Manual Seats

{ 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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

If the vehicle has a manual seat, it can be moved forward or rearward.

1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.

2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.

Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.

1-2

Power Seat

If the vehicle has front power seat(s), the controls are 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.

Reclining Seatbacks

{ CAUTION:

If either seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.

The seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever used to operate them is located on the inboard side of the seats.

1-3

To recline the seatback:

1. Lift the recline lever.

2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.

3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

To return the seatback to an upright position:

1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.

2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

1-4

{ CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when the vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if when buckled up, the safety belts cannot do their job when reclined like this.

The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not 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 cannot 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 the safety belt properly.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Removing the Rear Seat

Disconnect the quick release latch plates for the lap-shoulder belts on the bench seat to be removed.

1. 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.

Do not have a seatback reclined if the vehicle is moving.

2. Locate the pins. On a three passenger seat there are two pins

located on the inboard sides of the rear seats.

1-5

Three Passenger Seat Shown

The driver side pin has a gray cap with a black “L” marked on it.

1-6

The passenger side pin has a black cap with a white “R” marked on it.

On a four passenger seat, each half of the seat has a set of pins. The driver sidehasasetmarked“L”, and the passenger side has a setmarked“R”.

If the vehicle has ﬂoor mats, the pins will be located under a ﬂap that has been cut into the mat.

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

4. Repeat this procedure for the other pins.

5. Pull the seat rearward about 2 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.

Replacing the Rear Seats

{ CAUTION:

A seat that is not 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 will not 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.

1-7

2. Locate the hole in the rail to install the locking pins at the rear of the seat base.Ifthevehiclehasﬂoor mats, pull the ﬂap that has beencutintothemat.

3. Insert the locking pins into the seat base and push the seat to line up the pins with the base.

On a three passenger seat, the pin with the black cap marked “R” must be installed on the passenger side and the pin with the gray cap marked “L” on the driver side.

On a four passenger seat, the pins marked “R” must be installed on the half of the seat on the passenger side. The pins marked “L” must be installed on the half of the seat on the driver side.

Three Passenger Seat Shown

4. Push the pin(s) marked “R” down until they are in the retaining clip.

1-8

Three Passenger Seat Shown

5. Push the pin(s) marked “L” down until they are 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 all locking pins are locked into place before operating the vehicle.

1-9

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

This section of the manual describes how to use safety belts properly. It also describes some things not to do with safety belts.

{ CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. Inacollision,people riding in these areas are more likelytobeseriously injured or killed. Do not allow peopletorideinany area of your vehicle that is notequippedwithseats and safety belts. Be sure everyone inyourvehicleis in a seat and using a safetybeltproperly.

Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, the injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from the vehicle. You and your passenger(s) 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 passenger(s) are restrained properly too.

1-10

This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-26 for additional information.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:

You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a personwouldnotsurvive. But most crashes are in between. Inmanyofthem, people who buckle up can survive andsometimeswalk away. Without safety belts, they could havebeenbadly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashesbucklingupdoes 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 is just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-11

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.

1-12

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

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 is why safety belts make such good sense.

1-13

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I

am wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety

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

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

wear safety belts?

A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they

work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

Q: If I am 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 are in a

crash — even one that is notyourfault—youand your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being agooddriver does not protect you from things beyondyour 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.

1-14

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

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

safety belts and children. And there aredifferentrules for smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-29 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-32. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts.

Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know.

Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the ﬂoor in front of you. 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 would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on 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 shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.

1-15

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give 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 snugly against your body.

1-16

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as

much protection this way.

{ CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.

1-17

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong buckle.

{ 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 on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

1-18

Q: What is 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 on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.

1-19

Q: What is 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 are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

1-20

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is behind the body.

{ CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

1-21

Q: What is 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 would not 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/retailer to ﬁx it.

1-22

Lap-Shoulder Belt

All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. If you are using a rear seating position with a detachable safety belt and the safety belt is not attached, see Rear Seat Operation on page 1-5 for instruction on reconnecting the safety belt to the mini-buckle.

The following instructions explain how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.

1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted.

The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature may be engaged. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again.

3. 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 is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-28.

Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.

4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information.

1-23

5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.

It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.

1-24

To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position. Slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing when the safety belt is not in use. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall.

Before a door is closed, be sure the safety belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a safety belt, damage can occur to both the safety belt and the vehicle.

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and right front passenger positions.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on the shoulder. The belt should be away from the face and neck, but not falling off of the shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.

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

After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it has locked into position.

Safety Belt Pretensioners

If the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the vehicle is below 8,500 lb (3 855 kg) then the vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the front outboard occupants. See Loading the Vehicle on page 4-19 to locate the certiﬁcation label which contains the GVWR.

Although the safety belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal, or rear crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if the vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash or a rollover event.

Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, they will need to be replaced, and probably other new parts for the vehicle’s safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-76.

1-25

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides

Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the shoulder belt away from the neck and head.

There is one guide for each outboard passenger position in the rear seats. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt:

1. Locate the guide in a pocket on the side of the seatback.

2. Place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.

1-26

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