1996 CHEVROLET EXPRESS check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries
-- Gasoline Engines
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States
or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other
fuel not
recommended in
the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
~ To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
1 contact a major oil company that does business in the
j country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write
us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7
Filling Your Tank
I
1 C ,U ION: I
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away.from gasoline.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
I NOTICE:
If’ you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not
fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might
be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
To open the hood, first pull
this handle inside the
vehicle. It is just in front of
the driver’s side
door frame
near the floor.
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I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil
(Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
It’s
a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to drain
back
into the oil pan. If you
don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push
it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping
the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you’ll need to
add some
oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind
of oil to use. For crankcase capacity,
see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
I NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If’ your engine has so much
oil that the oil level gets above the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range,
your engine
could be damaged.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83
000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or
if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle’s
GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any
of these conditions, the
fluid and filter do
not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
.Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your GM dealer
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure
to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on
the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission
fluid.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), drive the
vehicle in
DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady for
10 minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine
off and is
used only as
a reference. Let the engine run at idle for
five minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or
more. If it's colder than
50°F ( 10°C), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check, you
must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you
a more accurate
reading of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
in PARK (P).
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
wipe it
with a clean rag or paper towel.
then pull it back out again.
3.
4.
Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the
COLD area for a
cold check
or in the HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all
the way; then flip the handle
down
to lock the dipstick in place.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid Rear Axle
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper
fluid to bring the
level up to the HOT area for a hot
check.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint (0.5 L). Don ’t overjX. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under
“How to Check.”
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check
the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the
bottom
of the filler plug
hole, you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Add
enough lubricant
to raise
the level to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have
your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher.
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