1996 CHEVROLET EXPRESS cooling

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To open the driver side rear door, pull the latch release
lever
at the inside edge of the door.
Both rear doors can be opened past
90 degrees by
opening
the doors past the first detent (90 degrees open),
then opening fully.
To close the rear doors, close the driver side rear door
first. Then, close the passenger side rear door. Check to
make sure both doors are completely closed.
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the rear doors
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the rear doors open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
rear doors:
0 Make sure all windows are shut.
0 lbrn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT, HEAT,
BLEND or DEF.
Additionally, on vehicles with heatinglair
conditioning systems,
NORM A/C or
BI-LEV A/C can be used. That will force
outside air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the rear
swing-out windows or rear door(s) open because
carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your
vehicle. You can’t see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the rear swing-out
windows or rear door(s) open or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and the rear
swing-out windows or rear door(s):
Make sure all windows are shut.
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION:
(Continued)
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT, HEAT, BLEND or DEF.
Additionally, on vehicles with heatingair
conditioning systems, NORM A/C or
BI-LEV
A/C can be used. That will force
outside air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Horn
Press one of the horn buttons at each side of the steering
wheel to sound the horn.
2-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Sectic I 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section you’ll find out how to operate the comfort Heater Controls
control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with
your vehicle.
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system work
for you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems, you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation in your van. Your vehicle also
has a flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section. If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, your
heater controls will
look like this.
3-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Mode Knob
The right knob on the control panel changes the
heatedair conditioning setting.
MAX A/C: With A/C on, move the right knob to
MAX A/C for maximum cooling. This setting puts the
system in the recirculation mode and helps to maximize
your air conditioner’s performance and your vehicle’s
fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest.
After the vehicle’s interior reaches
a comfortable
temperature, move
the knob clockwise to place the air
conditioning system
in the A/C mode.
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside air and directs it through the instrument
panel outlets.
+e
@ VENT: This setting, with the arrow pointing at
the figure’s head, directs air through the instrument
panel
vents.
+e
‘N VENTMEAT Use this setting, with the arrows
pointing at
the figure’s feet and head, to divide
airflow between the heater floor vents and instrument
panel vents.
+# HEAT This setting, with the arrow pointing at the
figure’s feet, directs air through the heater floor vents.
This setting is useful for cold weather.
U
?# HEATDEFROST Use this setting, with the
arrow pointing at the figure’s feet and the defroster
symbol near the figure’s head,
to divide airflow between
the heater
floor vents and windshield.
0
WO
DEFROST This setting with the defrost symbol
directs
air through the windshield defroster vents.
This setting is
useful when you have fog or ice on
the windshield.
3-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard
on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some
of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
rA CAUTIO :
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going
down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
0
0
0
0
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or
cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs
on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones,
a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
4-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving with a m .’ .er
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.) To
maximize your safety when towing
a trailer:
a
a
a
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting
on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear
or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
MAX A/C because it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.)
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting
out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know
your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly
as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before
you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments),
safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
4-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Main ~ mr ~ ce When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea
to review these
sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The eight-wire harness, if you have one, is stored under
your vehicle along the rear frame crossmember. It is
wrapped and bound with a plastic strap. The harness has
a 30-amp battery feed and no connector, and
you should
have a qualified electrical service person wire your
harness for
you. Attach the harness to the trailer, then
tape or strap
it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you
leave it loose enough so the wiring doesn’t bend or
break, but not
so loose that it drags on the ground.
Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie it neatly
so it won’t be damaged.
The five-wire harness, if you have one, is stored inside
the vehicle at
the passenger side rear corner, behind the
jack. This should be wired by a qualified electrical
service person.
It must be routed out of your vehicle
between the rear door and the floor, with enough of the
harness left on both sides
so that the trailer or the body
won’t pull
it.
Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie it neatly
so it won’t be damaged.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Engine Fan(s)
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at
or above the FULL
COLD mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
5-12